British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by intelligence, was thought to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was situated in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several access tunnels down to the site... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary John Healey remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of the group after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," Healey said. "They were part of numerous UK service members deployed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate militants who threaten our safety, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, continuously, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the American forces executed what it described as a "major assault" on Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an assault killed two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
