Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, located using surveillance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several entry passages leading to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey said.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of the UK armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Islamic State still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
