British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was located in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any revival of the terrorist group and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State after its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," Healey added. "They were among numerous British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how UK forces are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, after an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
