British Air Force Typhoon jets have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a joint strike targeting an hidden munitions depot in Syrian territory used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the British defence ministry.
The location, identified by intelligence, was believed to be housing weapons and explosive materials, the announcement noted, and was situated in mountainous terrain just to the north of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft employed laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a series of approach shafts leading to the depot... preliminary assessments suggest the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no indication of any civilian casualties in the attack late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the ministry further stated.
The British jets were supported by a Voyager tanker plane.
IS - referred to as ISIS - established militant control over significant areas in both Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores the UK's leading role, and commitment to work closely with our partners, to stamp out any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister remarked.
British military aircraft have carried out surveillance missions over Syria to "deter any attempted comeback" of the group subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I extend gratitude to the personnel of British forces who took part in this mission for their professionalism and their bravery," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of a great many British troops on duty over the holidays. This action, to eliminate terrorist threats who threaten our safety, shows how British military are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and influential overseas."
Last December, the American forces conducted what it termed a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in Syria, subsequent to an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The UN says Daesh still maintains an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria.
