British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of entry passages providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established extremist governance over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," he commented. "They were among numerous UK service members stationed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "major assault" on Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
