British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have joined forces with French warplanes in a coordinated attack against an subterranean weapons facility in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK's MoD.
The location, located using intelligence, was believed to be containing munitions and bombs, the statement said, and was situated in mountains just north of the historic site of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"The RAF jets utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to target a several entry passages providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the target was engaged successfully," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any civilian impact in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved returned safely, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as ISIS - imposed militant control over large swathes of Iraq and Syria until 2019.
"This operation underscores the UK's leading role, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their harmful and extremist ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary stated.
RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group after its military defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.
"I must thank all the members of our armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their bravery," he commented. "Including them were numerous British troops deployed over the holidays. This mission, to remove terrorist threats who endanger our security, highlights how British military are prepared to act, throughout the year, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and powerful internationally."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "large-scale strike" targeting IS targets in the country, following an ambush resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a local interpreter in Palmyra.
The UN reports IS still boasts roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in Syria and Iraq.
