British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a series of access tunnels leading to the depot... early reports are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this strike for their expertise and their valour," Healey said. "Including them were numerous UK service members stationed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate militants who threaten our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an attack resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in both countries.
