RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several approach shafts leading to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the strike on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among a great many UK service members on duty over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN reports IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Iraq and Syria.
