Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of approach shafts leading to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey commented. "Including them were thousands of British troops stationed over the holidays. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" against IS targets in the country, subsequent to an assault killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
