British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces 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 British defence ministry.
The facility, located using surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several access tunnels leading to the facility... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action shows British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our allies, to eradicate any revival of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," he added. "Including them were a great many British personnel on duty over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out militants who pose a risk to our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces executed what it called a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in the country, after an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
