British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This strike shows our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces participating in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," Healey added. "They were among a great many British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" targeting IS targets in Syria, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
