RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the British defence ministry.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in hills just above the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several entry passages leading to the facility... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed extremist governance over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike shows our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," the British Defence Secretary the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of IS subsequent to its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the authorities noted.
"I want to thank every member of our armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their courage," Healey commented. "They were among numerous UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces conducted what it termed a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
