In a coordinated military effort, British and French aircraft launched a strike on an underground facility suspected of being used by Islamic State militants to store weapons and explosives. This operation was confirmed by the U.K. Ministry of Defence on Sunday.
The airstrikes occurred on Saturday evening in a remote, mountainous area north of Palmyra, within Syria’s Homs province. The mission aimed to disrupt the activities of the Islamic State by targeting their logistical hubs.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the operation involved Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets, which were supported by a Voyager refueling tanker. These aircraft worked in conjunction with French military planes to effectively target and destroy access tunnels leading to the underground facility.
Paveway IV precision-guided bombs played a crucial role in the strike, enhancing the accuracy and impact of the operation.
While a thorough assessment of the strike’s effectiveness is still underway, preliminary reports suggest that the intended target was successfully hit, underscoring the coordination and precision of the allied forces involved.
An assessment was ongoing, but initial indications suggested that the target was successfully hit, the ministry said.
Britain and France are partners in the U.S.-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, which was formed to combat the extremist group after it had previously seized large areas of Iraq and Syria.
U.K. Secretary of State for Defence Sir John Healey said the strike showed Britain’s determination to prevent any resurgence of Islamic State and to stand “shoulder to shoulder with our allies” against extremist violence in the Middle East.
Night shot of a Royal Air Force Typhoon. (UK Ministry of Defence)
The operation came amid continued U.S. military activity in Syria, where American forces have conducted counterterrorism missions in the country.
In December, the Trump administration also ordered large-scale U.S. strikes across central Syria.
This was in retaliation for an ambush near Palmyra that killed two U.S. troops and an American civilian interpreter.
Military forces reportedly conducted strikes in Syria on ISIS targets, amid President Donald Trump’s vow of revenge on the terror group for the deaths of two U.S. soldiers in the country last week. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
As previously reported by Fox News Digital, according to U.S. Central Command, ISIS remains an active and persistent threat despite sustained pressure from coalition forces.
CENTCOM said recent U.S. operations in the region have also targeted infrastructure and weapons sites across central Syria.
“We will not relent,” Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said in a statement on Dec. 30.
“We are steadfast in commitment to working with regional partners to root out the ISIS threat posed to U.S. and regional security.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.K. Ministry of Defence for comment.
