Fighter jets from the United Kingdom and France carried out a coordinated airstrike on the tunnels of an underground shelter used by the Islamic State in the mountains near the Syrian city of Palmyra.
The operation targeted an installation used by the extremist group as a weapons and explosives depot.
According to the British Ministry of Defense, the attack was conducted using guided aerial bombs Paveway IVdropped by fighters Typhoon FGR4 of the Royal Air Force. The mission benefited from the logistical support of a Voyager tanker, responsible for in-flight refueling.
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Initial assessments indicate that the target was successfully struck, resulting 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 strengthens Britain’s commitment to regional security. According to him, the offensive demonstrates the UK’s leadership and willingness to act together with allies to prevent any attempts to reorganize the extremist group in the Middle East.
Currently, the United States leads an international coalition aimed at fighting the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Despite losing much of its territory, the group still maintains active militants in these countries, conducting attacks and using remote areas to regroup.
In December, US Central Command conducted Operation Hawkeye Strike, a large-scale offensive against Islamic State positions in Syrian territory. The action involved fighters, 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.
