British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several entry passages providing entry to the site... early reports suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any revival of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of our armed forces participating in this mission for their skill and their valour," Healey said. "Including them were thousands of British personnel on duty over the festive period. This mission, to remove militants who endanger our security, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it called a "major assault" on IS targets in the country, subsequent to an assault killed two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
