British Air Force Typhoon jets have operated alongside France's air force in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, as stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as containing munitions and bombs, the announcement noted, and was located in mountainous terrain just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"The RAF jets used Paveway IV guided bombs to hit a series of approach shafts providing entry to the site... initial indications are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the defence officials confirmed.
The British jets were backed up by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as the so-called Islamic State - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eradicate any revival of the terrorist group and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
British military aircraft have conducted overwatch operations over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group subsequent to its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces participating in this operation for their expertise and their valour," he said. "Including them were numerous UK service members deployed over the holidays. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how UK forces are ready to step up, continuously, keeping Britain secure within its borders and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military carried out what it termed a "massive strike" targeting Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US servicemembers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 combatants in Iraq and Syria.
