British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the British defence ministry.
The site, identified by intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a number of entry passages down to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the operation late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," he added. "Including them were numerous British troops on duty over the holidays. This action, to remove militants who threaten our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "major assault" against Islamic State objectives in Syria, subsequent to an assault killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
