British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory employed by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The facility, pinpointed through surveillance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts providing entry to the facility... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the attack on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
The Islamic State group - referred to as the so-called Islamic State - established jihadist rule over large swathes of Iraq and Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This operation demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eradicate any re-emergence of IS and their violent and radical beliefs in the Middle East," Britain's Defence Chief John Healey remarked.
British military aircraft have conducted surveillance missions over Syria to "forestall any attempted resurgence" of the group following its military defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of the UK armed forces who took part in this mission for their skill and their valour," he said. "They were among thousands of British troops deployed over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who pose a risk to our way of life, shows how UK forces are always on standby, continuously, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
During December, the United States armed forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" on IS targets in the country, following an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Islamic State still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
