British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French warplanes in a combined operation targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft utilized precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several access tunnels down to the facility... early reports are that the target was engaged successfully," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as Daesh - established militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister remarked.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "They were part of a great many UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who threaten our way of life, shows how our armed forces are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. says Islamic State still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in both countries.
