British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of access tunnels leading to the facility... early reports suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact 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 refuelling tanker.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group after its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of British forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their valour," he added. "They were part of thousands of British troops stationed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure domestically and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, after an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
