RAF Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French aircraft in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just north of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of access tunnels providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet returned to base without incident, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - referred to as Daesh - established militant control over parts of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation demonstrates British leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our partners, to stamp out any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
UK warplanes have conducted overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group following its routing at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces involved in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," he added. "Including them were numerous British troops stationed over the holidays. This mission, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, demonstrates how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces carried out what it described as a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in the country, after an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations estimates Daesh still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 militants in Iraq and Syria.
