Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The site, identified by intelligence, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was positioned in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets employed Paveway IV guided bombs to target a several approach shafts down to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the ministry further stated.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - enforced jihadist rule over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation shows British leadership, and determination to operate in unison with our partners, to eliminate any re-emergence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary the minister said.
UK warplanes have conducted patrols over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of IS subsequent to its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their skill and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among a great many British troops stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who threaten our safety, shows how British military are ready to step up, continuously, protecting the UK at home and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "large-scale strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an assault claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. reports Daesh still has an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants in both countries.
