British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several access tunnels leading to the site... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister said.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their expertise and their courage," Healey commented. "They were among a great many UK service members deployed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush killed two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
