British and French warplanes carried out a coordinated airstrike on tunnels in an underground refuge 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 warehouse for weapons and explosives.
According to the British Ministry of Defence, the attack was carried out with precision-guided aerial bombs of the type Paveway IVwhich was dropped from British RAF fighter jets Typhoon FGR4. The mission was logistically supported by a Voyager tanker aircraft responsible for aerial refueling.
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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 operation has significantly reduced the Islamic State’s operational capability in the region.
Britain’s Defense Secretary John Healy said the operation strengthens the country’s commitment to regional security. According to him, the offensive shows Britain’s leadership and willingness to work together with 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 fighting the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Although the group has lost most of its territory, it still has active militant members in these countries, carrying out attacks and exploiting remote areas to regroup.
In December, US Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted Operation Hawkeye Strike, a large-scale offensive against Islamic State positions on Syrian territory. The operation involved fighter jets, attack helicopters and artillery support aimed at 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 has been created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editors.
