Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountains just to the north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and determination to work closely with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any attempted resurgence" of the group following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to every member of British forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," Healey said. "They were part of thousands of British personnel on duty over the holidays. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces executed what it described as a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
