Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have operated alongside French aircraft in a combined operation on an subterranean weapons facility in Syria used by the Daesh militant organization, per a report from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The location, pinpointed through surveillance, was assessed as storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was positioned in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in the heart of Syria.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to target a several access tunnels leading to the depot... early reports are that the objective was successfully hit," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any civilian casualties in the strike conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon fighters were assisted by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as Daesh - established extremist governance over large swathes of both Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2019.
"This action demonstrates the UK's leading role, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated.
UK warplanes have performed overwatch operations over Syria to "deter any attempted resurgence" of Islamic State subsequent to its routing at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the MoD reported.
"I want to thank the personnel of our armed forces who took part in this strike for their professionalism and their valour," he commented. "Including them were a great many British troops stationed over the holidays. This operation, to take out dangerous terrorists who endanger our way of life, highlights how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security at home and strong abroad."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it described as a "major assault" on Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an ambush resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates Daesh still boasts between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
