Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of access tunnels down to the site... early reports are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation demonstrates our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
UK warplanes have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of IS after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this operation for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey commented. "Including them were a great many British troops on duty over the festive period. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
During December, the US military executed what it called a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in Syria and Iraq.
