British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several access tunnels down to the site... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
British military aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank every member of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey added. "They were part of numerous British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to remove militants who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
