Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the British defence ministry.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the statement said, and was located in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a number of entry passages providing entry to the facility... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group after its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank the personnel of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of thousands of UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, shows how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
