Britain launched a missile strike against Islamic State in Syria alongside the French air force, the Ministry of Defence has said.
RAF Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets launched Paveway IV guided bombs to hit access tunnels leading into an underground facility north of the ancient ruins of Palmyra on Saturday evening.
Intelligence led the UK government to conclude the bunker had been used store weapons and explosives. No one lives in the area, the MoD said.
RAF Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets joined French aircraft in a joint strike on suspected arms dump used by Islamic State
SGT LEE GODDARD/MOD CROWN COPYRIGHT/PA WIRE
The British jets were joined by the French air force and a Voyager refuelling tanker. A detailed assessment of the strikes are now underway, but the MoD said it believed the attack was a success.
John Healey, the defence secretary, said it demonstrated Britain’s “determination to work shoulder to shoulder with our allies” to prevent any return of Islamic State.
“This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life, shows how our armed forces are ready to step up, all year round, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad,” Healey said.
Isis has been in retreat in Syria since its military defeat at Baghuz Fawqani in March 2019, a town near the Iraqi border that became its last pocket of support in the country. The battle was led by the Syrian Defence Forces, supported by British and American airstrikes, artillery and special forces personnel.
Since that defeat, the RAF has participated in regular aerial patrols over Syria, as well as a series of military interventions.
The MoD said it believed the attack on the underground facility in Syria was a success
SGT LEE GODDARD/MOD CROWN COPYRIGHT/PA WIRE
Last July an unmanned RAFReaper drone eliminated a known Isis terrorist in the Sarmada area of Syria in the extreme northwest, near the border with Turkey.
The previous year, another known terrorist was killed by a British Reaper drone. In April 2024 a pair of Typhoon FGR4 jets destroyed an enemy combatant rocket launcher.
The United States launched dozens of airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Syria last month, days after Isis killed three Americans near the ancient city of Palmyra.
Isis has found support in other regions of the world. In February last year, Trump authorised strikes against members of the group in Somalia. Last month Trump said the US had carried out “a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria”.