RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, pinpointed through intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a number of approach shafts providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This action underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," he commented. "They were part of thousands of British troops on duty over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our security, shows how our armed forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" targeting IS targets in Syria, following an ambush killed two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Islamic State still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
