British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several access tunnels leading to the site... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eliminate any revival of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their valour," Healey commented. "Including them were numerous British personnel stationed over the festive period. This action, to remove militants who endanger our security, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in Syria, after an attack claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
