In a precisely coordinated joint military operation conducted on the evening of Saturday, January 3, 2026, the air forces of the United Kingdom and France executed targeted airstrikes against a suspected underground arms storage facility once utilized by the Islamic State group deep inside Syrian territory, as confirmed in an official statement from the British Ministry of Defence.

The operation stemmed from detailed intelligence analysis that pinpointed the hidden site nestled in rugged mountainous terrain north of the historic city of Palmyra, a location believed to be stockpiling weapons and explosives as part of ongoing efforts by Western coalition forces to monitor and prevent any potential resurgence of the extremist organization that was territorially defeated in 2019.

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 multirole combat jets, aided by a Voyager aerial refuelling tanker for extended range and endurance, delivered Paveway IV precision-guided bombs directly onto several identified access tunnels leading to the subterranean facility, with preliminary battle damage assessments suggesting the strikes achieved their objectives effectively while confirming the area was completely devoid of civilian presence or infrastructure.

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All participating aircraft returned to base without incident, highlighting the professional execution of the mission and reinforcing the commitment of international partners to sustained counter-terrorism vigilance against remnants of Daesh, the Arabic acronym for Islamic State, which continues to pose ideological and operational threats across the Middle East despite losing its self-declared caliphate.

British Defence Secretary John Healey commended the operation, emphasizing that it exemplifies resolute UK leadership and unwavering solidarity with allies in decisively suppressing any revival of Daesh's dangerous extremist ideology, ensuring regional stability and protecting global security interests through proactive and collaborative military action.

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