British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of approach shafts leading to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among a great many UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our safety, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in Syria, after an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN says IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in both countries.
