British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside French warplanes 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 facility, identified by surveillance, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just above the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several entry passages leading to the depot... initial indications are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - established extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation underscores our UK leadership, and resolve to operate in unison with allied nations, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary the minister stated.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of IS following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," the Defence Secretary said. "They were part of numerous UK service members deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to take out dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, highlights how UK forces are prepared to act, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and influential overseas."
During December, the American forces conducted what it called a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in Syria, after an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The United Nations reports IS still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
