British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of approach shafts leading to the depot... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their valour," he said. "They were part of numerous British personnel deployed over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate militants who endanger our security, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" against IS targets in the country, after an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
