News Desk
04 January 2026, 08:10 AM IST
UK and French fighter jets strike ISIS tunnel complex near Palmyra in a precision raid aimed at preventing militant resurgence in Syria.
A Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jet prepares for take-off in an undated handout image released by the UK Ministry of Defence. (Photo: AP)
London/Damascus: British and French military aircraft carried out a coordinated airstrike on an underground weapons and explosives facility used by the Islamic State in central Syria, the UK Ministry of Defence said on Saturday.
The precision raid targeted tunnel entrances at a remote site in mountainous terrain close to the historic city of Palmyra, a region long exploited by the jihadist group.
According to the ministry, Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 combat jets, operating alongside French aircraft, dropped precision-guided munitions on access points leading into the underground complex. The operation took place on Saturday evening and was supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling tanker, allowing the jets to remain on station for extended periods.
“Initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully,” the Ministry of Defence said, adding that the facility was believed to have been used for storing weapons and explosives. The surrounding area was assessed to be free of civilians at the time of the strike, and all coalition aircraft returned safely to base.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey said the operation underlined Britain’s commitment to countering any resurgence of Islamic State. “The UK is determined to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies to stamp out any return of Daesh and its violent ideology,” Healey said, thanking the armed forces personnel involved in the mission.
The Islamic State once controlled large swathes of Syria and Iraq before being territorially defeated in 2019. However, Western military officials have repeatedly warned that the group continues to maintain covert cells, weapons caches, and underground infrastructure, particularly in sparsely populated desert regions.
Coalition aircraft have been conducting regular patrols and targeted strikes in Syria to disrupt IS networks, prevent regrouping, and support regional stability. The latest joint strike highlights continued coordination between European allies as they seek to neutralise remaining militant capabilities and prevent attacks both in the region and beyond.
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