UK and French warplanes have carried out a coordinated airstrike against the tunnels of an underground shelter used by Islamic State in the mountainous area near the Syrian city of Palmyra.
The operation targeted a facility used by the extremist group as a weapons and explosives warehouse.
According to the British Ministry of Defence, the attack was carried out with aerial guided bombs Paveway IVlaunched by Royal Air Force fighter jets Typhoon FGR4. The mission received logistical support from a Voyager tanker aircraft responsible for in-flight refueling.
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Initial assessments indicate that the target was successfully hit, which resulted in the destruction of the underground infrastructure used by the terrorist group. British authorities say the action has significantly reduced Islamic State’s operational capacity in the region.
UK Defense Secretary John Healy said the operation reinforces Britain’s commitment to regional security. According to him, the offensive demonstrates the leadership of the United Kingdom and the readiness to act alongside allies to prevent any attempt to reorganize the extremist group in the Middle East.
The United States currently leads an international coalition focused on fighting the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Although it has lost most of its territory, the group still maintains active militants in these countries, carrying out attacks and exploiting isolated areas to reorganize.
In December, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) 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 with the aim of weakening 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 help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
