Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a series of access tunnels down to the site... early reports indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their skill and their bravery," Healey said. "Including them were a great many UK service members deployed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how British military are always on standby, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in the country, following an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
