British Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK's MoD.
The facility, identified by surveillance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several access tunnels leading to the facility... early reports are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian casualties in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over large swathes of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This action shows our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with our allies, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any attempted comeback" of the group following its defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces involved in this operation for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of numerous British personnel on duty over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate militants who endanger our way of life, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security domestically and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it termed a "massive strike" on IS targets in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. says Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
