Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts leading to the depot... early reports suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over parts of both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike shows our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this strike for their expertise and their courage," he commented. "They were among numerous British personnel on duty over the holidays. This action, to remove dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and powerful internationally."
In December, the American forces conducted what it called a "massive strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Daesh still has roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in Syria and Iraq.
