British and French combat aircraft carried out a coordinated airstrike against tunnels of an underground shelter used by the Islamic State in the mountains near the Syrian city of Palmyra.
The operation targeted a facility employed by the extremist group as a storage site for weapons and explosives.
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the strike was conducted using Paveway IV precision-guided bombs dropped by Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets. The mission was supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling tanker, which provided in-flight refuelling.
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Initial assessments indicate that the target was successfully hit, resulting in the destruction of the underground infrastructure used by the terrorist group. British authorities state that the action significantly reduced the Islamic State’s operational capacity in the region.
UK Defence Secretary John Healy said the operation reinforces Britain’s commitment to regional security. According to him, the offensive demonstrates the United Kingdom’s leadership and willingness to work alongside allies to prevent any attempt by the extremist group to reorganize in the Middle East.
Currently, the United States leads an international coalition focused on combating the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Despite losing most of its territory, the group still maintains active militants in these countries, carrying out attacks and exploiting remote areas to regroup.
In December, U.S. Central Command conducted Operation Hawkeye Strike, a large-scale offensive against Islamic State positions in Syrian territory. The action involved fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery support, aiming to weaken the group’s remaining cells.
Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of access tunnels down to the facility; whilst detailed assessment is now underway, initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully. pic.twitter.com/IPBOv3rCeR
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) January 3, 2026
Source and images: X @DefenceHQ | Crown Copyright. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
