RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft have joined forces with France's air force in a joint strike on an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory operated by the Daesh militant organization, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
The site, identified by reconnaissance, was assessed as housing weapons and explosive materials, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountains just above the ancient city of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our fighter planes used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to hit a number of approach shafts down to the site... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," officials stated.
There was no indication of any civilian impact in the strike late on Saturday and each participating jet made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were backed up by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - also known as Daesh - enforced jihadist rule over parts of Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores our UK leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the region," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State following its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in the year 2019, the MoD reported.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their skill and their bravery," the Defence Secretary added. "Including them were thousands of British personnel stationed over the holidays. This action, to remove militants who pose a risk to our security, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, throughout the year, protecting the UK at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the US military carried out what it described as a "massive strike" on Daesh sites in the country, following an ambush claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian linguist in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Islamic State still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand militants in Iraq and Syria.
