British and French warplanes executed a coordinated air strike on an underground facility in central Syria, believed to be used by members of the Islamic State (IS) for storing weapons and explosives. The operation took place on Saturday evening in the mountainous region just north of the historic town of Palmyra, according to the British Defence Ministry.
The air strikes involved the use of British Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets, supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker, and were complemented by French aircraft. The ministry reported that the British Royal Air Force deployed Paveway IV guided bombs to target access tunnels leading to the facility. While a detailed assessment of the operation is currently underway, initial evaluations suggest that the target was successfully engaged.
Commitment to Counterterrorism Efforts
John Healey, the UK Defence Secretary, emphasized the importance of this action, stating, “This action shows our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence” of IS and its “violent ideologies” in the Middle East. There was no immediate response from the Syrian government regarding the strikes, which underscore the ongoing international efforts to combat IS.
Syria joined the anti-IS coalition in late 2025, following the group’s significant territorial losses in 2019. Despite this defeat, IS sleeper cells continue to execute deadly attacks in both Syria and Iraq, where they once declared a caliphate. According to reports from United Nations experts, IS still maintains a presence of approximately 5,000 to 7,000
