RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation against an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the IS group, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes used Paveway IV guided bombs to strike a several approach shafts down to the site... preliminary assessments are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates our UK leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any revival of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any efforts to regroup" of the group following its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces who took part in this operation for their skill and their valour," he said. "They were part of a great many British personnel deployed over Christmas and New Year. This action, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, continuously, protecting the UK domestically and strong abroad."
In December, the American forces carried out what it called a "large-scale strike" against IS targets in the country, following an attack resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The United Nations says Daesh still has between 5,000 and 7,000 combatants in both countries.
