British Air Force Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using intelligence, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountains just above Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of access tunnels leading to the facility... initial indications suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - established jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This strike demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," he added. "They were part of thousands of British personnel deployed over the festive period. This operation, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in Syria, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations reports IS still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
