Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 4, 2026
LONDON, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Britain's and France's air forces conducted a joint operation on Saturday evening to bomb a suspected underground arms cache previously used by the Islamic State group in Syria, Britain's defence ministry said.
Western aircraft have been conducting patrols to stop a resurgence of the Islamist militant group that ruled parts of Syria until 2019. Intelligence analysis identified an underground facility believed to be used to store weapons and explosives in mountains north of Palmyra, Britain said.
"Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of access tunnels down to the facility; whilst detailed assessment is now underway, initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully," Britain's defence ministry said in a statement.
Britain said the area was "devoid of any civilian habitation" before the attack and that all its aircraft had returned safely.
"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," British Defence Secretary John Healey said, referring to Islamic State by an alternative name.
Britain said it used Typhoon FGR4 combat jets to bomb the target, supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker.
(Reporting by David Milliken; Editing by Chris Reese)
The Islamic State (IS) is a militant group that gained control of parts of Iraq and Syria, known for its extreme interpretation of Islam and violent tactics. It was declared a global terrorist organization by many countries.
An air force is a branch of a nation's armed forces that is primarily responsible for aerial warfare, including the use of military aircraft to conduct operations such as bombing, reconnaissance, and air defense.
An arms cache is a hidden storage location for weapons, ammunition, and military supplies. These caches are often used by militant groups to stockpile arms for future use.
Guided bombs are precision munitions that use guidance systems to improve accuracy and target specific locations. They are designed to minimize collateral damage and increase the effectiveness of air strikes.
Intelligence analysis is the process of evaluating and interpreting information to understand threats and inform decision-making, often used in military and security contexts to assess risks and plan operations.
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