RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, identified by intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of entry passages leading to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - enforced militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with allied nations, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," Healey said. "They were among thousands of UK service members deployed over the festive period. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
In December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "major assault" on Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
