British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several entry passages leading to the depot... early reports indicate the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established militant control over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were numerous British personnel stationed over the holidays. This action, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
