British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK's MoD.
The facility, located using surveillance, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"The RAF jets utilized Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of entry passages leading to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and every plane involved returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
IS - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation shows the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
RAF aircraft have performed overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of IS following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank every member of our armed forces involved in this operation for their expertise and their courage," the Defence Secretary said. "They were among thousands of UK service members on duty over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our safety, demonstrates how British military are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the US military executed what it termed a "massive strike" on Islamic State objectives in the country, after an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
