Fighter planes from the United Kingdom and France carried out a coordinated air strike against tunnels of an underground shelter used by Islamic State in the mountains near the Syrian city of Palmyra.
The operation targeted a facility used by the extremist group as a weapons and explosives depot.
According to the British Ministry of Defense, the attack was carried out using guided aerial bombs. Paveway IVlaunched by fighters Typhoon FGR4 of the Royal Air Force. The mission had logistical support from a Voyager tanker aircraft, responsible for in-flight refueling.
Initial assessments indicate that the target was successfully reached, resulting in the destruction of the underground infrastructure used by the terrorist group. British authorities say the action significantly reduced the Islamic State’s operational capacity in the region.
UK Defense Secretary John Healy declared that the operation reinforces Britain’s commitment to regional security. According to him, the offensive demonstrates the United Kingdom’s leadership and willingness to act together with allies to prevent any attempt to reorganize the extremist group in the Middle East.
Currently, the United States leads an international coalition aimed at combating the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Despite having lost much of its territory, the group still maintains active militants in these countries, carrying out attacks and exploring remote areas to reorganize.
In December, United States 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 | CrownCopyright. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
