British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of entry passages down to the facility... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," he said. "They were among a great many British personnel deployed over the holidays. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The UN says Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
