Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The site, located using intelligence, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of approach shafts providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments indicate the target was engaged successfully," the ministry announced.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the strike on Saturday evening and each participating jet made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
The Islamic State group - referred to as ISIS - imposed militant control over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces involved in this strike for their expertise and their bravery," Healey added. "They were among thousands of UK service members on duty over the festive period. This mission, to eliminate terrorist threats who endanger our security, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, all year round, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces carried out what it termed a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an attack resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Daesh still boasts an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
