RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, located using surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to hit a series of access tunnels leading to the site... initial indications suggest the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary said.
British military aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its routing at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of British forces participating in this operation for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "Including them were thousands of British troops deployed over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in Syria, after an ambush killed two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. estimates IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Syria and Iraq.
