RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using surveillance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of access tunnels providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
UK warplanes have carried out patrols over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group following its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their courage," he said. "Including them were numerous British troops on duty over the festive period. This operation, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it called a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an attack killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
