RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of entry passages providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank the personnel of British forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among thousands of UK service members stationed over the holidays. This mission, to remove militants who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, all year round, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in the country, after an assault resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN says IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
