British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with France's air force in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of access tunnels down to the depot... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as ISIS - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State after its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of numerous British personnel on duty over the festive period. This operation, to remove militants who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how British military are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military executed what it called a "major assault" on Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports IS still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
