British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of entry passages providing entry to the site... preliminary assessments indicate the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the strike on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and resolve to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
RAF aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of our armed forces participating in this operation for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were a great many UK service members deployed over the festive period. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military conducted what it termed a "major assault" on Daesh sites in the country, following an ambush killed two American soldiers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
