British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French aircraft in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of approach shafts down to the depot... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were a great many British personnel deployed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
