British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French aircraft in a joint strike against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was positioned in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our fighter planes employed Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of access tunnels providing entry to the facility... early reports indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no indication of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any revival of IS and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," UK Defence Secretary the Defence Secretary said.
UK warplanes have performed surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group following its routing at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I extend gratitude to every member of our armed forces involved in this mission for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were among a great many British troops deployed over the holidays. This mission, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces carried out what it called a "major assault" on Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN estimates Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
