British and French warplanes carried out joint airstrikes targeting tunnels in an underground hideout used by the Islamic State (IS) located in the mountains near the Syrian city of Palmyra.
The operation targeted facilities where extremist groups stored weapons and explosives.
According to the British Ministry of Defense, the airstrike was carried out by the Royal Air Force. Typhoon FGR4 dropped from a fighter jet Paveway IV It was carried out using precision-guided bombs. The Voyager aerial refueling tanker, which was in charge of aerial refueling, participated in the mission as rear support.
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Initial assessments indicate that the target was successfully hit and the underground infrastructure used by the terrorist organization was destroyed. British authorities said that this measure had significantly weakened the Islamic State’s operational capabilities in the region.
British Defense Secretary John Healy emphasized that this operation reaffirms Britain’s firm commitment to regional security. He said the offensive demonstrated Britain’s leadership and determination to work with allies to stop the regrouping of extremist groups in the Middle East.
Currently, the United States is leading the international coalition to defeat the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Although the group has lost most of its territory, it still maintains active fighters in both countries, carrying out attacks and attempting to use remote areas to regroup.
Last December, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted ‘Operation Hawkeye Offensive’ and launched a large-scale offensive against Islamic State strongholds in Syria. The operation involved fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery support, aimed at weakening the organization’s remaining forces.
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
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