British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in hills just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a series of access tunnels down to the site... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of IS following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among numerous British personnel on duty over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "major assault" against Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
