Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syria operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a series of entry passages down to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved made a safe return, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows our UK leadership, and commitment to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any resurgence of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "prevent any efforts to regroup" of the group after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were a great many UK service members stationed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate militants who threaten our safety, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK within its borders and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "large-scale strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, following an assault claimed the lives of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Syria and Iraq.
