Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts providing entry to the site... early reports suggest the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria 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 revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "Including them were thousands of British personnel on duty over the festive period. This action, to take out militants who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how British military are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "major assault" on IS targets in Syria, following an attack killed two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
