The United Kingdom, in cooperation with France, carried out a targeted airstrike last night on an underground facility in Syria believed to have been used by the Islamic State (IS) group for storing weapons and explosives.
The British Ministry of Defence confirmed that Royal Air Force aircraft successfully hit the site in a joint operation with French forces. Officials emphasized that the facility was occupied by IS and that the surrounding area had no civilian presence, minimizing any risk to local populations.
Though IS lost territorial control in Syria in 2019, the group still maintains a presence in remote desert regions. Palmyra, a city renowned for its UNESCO-listed ancient ruins, was once under IS control and has been the site of sporadic attacks in recent months.
Last month, a lone IS gunman in Palmyra attacked American personnel, resulting in the deaths of two US soldiers and a US civilian. In response, US forces carried out airstrikes targeting dozens of IS positions in Syria.
This joint UK-France operation underscores ongoing international efforts to prevent the resurgence of extremist groups in Syria, while continuing to protect civilians and preserve the historic sites that define the region.
