London, Britain – The British Ministry of Defence announced on Sunday that the Royal Air Force, in cooperation with the French Air Force, carried out a precision airstrike targeting a facility belonging to the ISIS terrorist organization near Palmyra in Syria, confirming that the target was successfully destroyed.
Details of the military operation
A statement from the British Ministry of Defence explained that the operation took place on the evening of Saturday, January 3, based on precise intelligence analysis that identified an underground mountain facility located several miles north of the ancient city of Palmyra. It is believed that the organization used this facility to store weapons and explosives.
Aircraft involved: British FGR4 Typhoon fighter jets, supported by a Voyager refueling aircraft, along with French Rafale fighter jets.
Uniforms used: Paveway IV guided bombs targeted the entrances to the tunnels leading to the facility.
Results: The target was successfully hit, and all aircraft returned safely to their bases. It was confirmed that the area was clear of civilians at the time of the operation.
Statements by the British Defense Minister
Commenting on the operation, British Defence Secretary John Healey said:
“This action demonstrates the UK’s leadership and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies to defeat any resurgence of Daesh and its violent ideology in the Middle East.”
Healey also thanked the armed forces for their high level of professionalism, particularly given the continued deployment of thousands of British troops over the Christmas and New Year period to ensure security.
Regional context and international developments
This strike comes as part of an escalation of operations against the organization, and within a broader military context that includes:
Operation Hawkeye Strike: announced by US Secretary of Defense Pete Higseth on December 20, in response to an attack targeting US forces in Palmyra that killed two soldiers and an interpreter.
The new Syrian role: This move comes after Syria officially joined the international coalition against ISIS on November 12, and Damascus affirmed its commitment to pursuing the remnants of the organization and preventing the existence of any safe havens for it.
Royal Air Force aircraft have continued their air patrols over Syria since the organization’s military defeat in March 2019, to prevent any attempt to regroup or threaten the security of the region.
