Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with France's air force in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of access tunnels providing entry to the site... early reports indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank every member of our armed forces participating in this operation for their skill and their bravery," he added. "Including them were thousands of British troops deployed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate militants who endanger our way of life, demonstrates how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, ensuring Britain's security domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "massive strike" targeting Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.
