British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountains just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a number of access tunnels providing entry to the site... initial indications indicate the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - also known as ISIS - imposed extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows British leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any re-emergence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank all the members of our armed forces involved in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary added. "They were among numerous British personnel stationed over the festive period. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it called a "massive strike" against Daesh sites in the country, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports IS still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in both countries.
