British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several approach shafts providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This action underscores British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister said.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their courage," Healey added. "Including them were thousands of British troops deployed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, highlights how British military are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces executed what it called a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
