British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several access tunnels down to the facility... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - also known as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their valour," Healey commented. "Including them were a great many British troops on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our security, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in the country, after an attack killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.
