RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of access tunnels down to the depot... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established militant control over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of British forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," Healey commented. "Including them were thousands of British troops stationed over the holidays. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security domestically and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military executed what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, after an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
