British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The facility, identified by intelligence, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just above Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike conducted Saturday night and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - also known as Daesh - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank the personnel of British forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their bravery," Healey added. "They were among a great many British troops on duty over the holidays. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, throughout the year, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "major assault" against Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
