RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a series of access tunnels providing entry to the depot... initial indications suggest the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of a great many UK service members deployed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate militants who endanger our security, shows how British military are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security at home and powerful internationally."
During December, the US military carried out what it termed a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Iraq and Syria.
