UK and France Execute Joint Airstrike Against IS Arms Cache in Syria

Mon Jan 05 2026 12:01:49 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A successful collaboration between the UK and France targets an underground arms facility used by the Islamic State (IS), demonstrating a commitment to combating terrorism in the region.

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets, in coordination with French aircraft, successfully struck an underground arms cache utilized by Islamic State in Syria. The operation was carried out with precision guided munitions, and initial reports indicate no civilian casualties. Highlights of the mission include the analysis that led to the strike and a continuation of efforts to prevent IS's resurgence after its territorial losses.

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have joined French aircraft in a joint strike on an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), the UK Ministry of Defence says.

Careful intelligence analysis led officials to believe the facility was storing arms and explosives, and was in mountains just north of Palmyra, an ancient site in central Syria.

Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of access tunnels down to the facility... initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully, the MoD said.

There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the strike late on Saturday and all the aircraft returned safely, the MoD added.

Detailed assessment of the strikes is under way but officials believe the target was engaged successfully. The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.

Is imposed jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019. This action shows our UK leadership, and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies, to stamp out any resurgence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the Middle East, UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.

RAF aircraft have carried out patrols over Syria to prevent any attempted resurgence of IS following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in 2019, the ministry said.

The United Nations says IS still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq. The coalition, officials say, is aimed at eliminating remaining elements of the so-called Islamic State and stemming the flow of foreign militants to the Middle East.

Last month, the US military carried out what it called a massive strike against IS targets in Syria following an ambush that killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra.