British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their skill and their courage," he said. "They were part of a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, demonstrates how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush killed two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
