British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a several approach shafts leading to the site... early reports are that the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action shows the UK's leading role, and determination to work closely with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of the terrorist group and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "forestall any attempted comeback" of Islamic State after its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of British forces participating in this strike for their skill and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous British personnel stationed over the festive period. This mission, to remove dangerous terrorists who endanger our security, demonstrates how British military are prepared to act, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and strong abroad."
Last December, the US military carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations says Daesh still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
