British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of approach shafts leading to the facility... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as Daesh - enforced militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces participating in this strike for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of a great many UK service members deployed over the holidays. This operation, to take out militants who threaten our way of life, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
During December, the US military conducted what it called a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
