British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of access tunnels down to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of numerous British troops stationed over the festive period. This mission, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" against Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an attack killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN estimates Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
