British and French warplanes executed a coordinated airstrike on a suspected Islamic State (IS) site in central Syria on the evening of Saturday, March 15, 2024. The strike targeted an underground facility believed to be storing weapons and explosives, located in the mountainous region just north of the historic town of Palmyra, according to a statement from the British Defence Ministry.
The air operation involved the use of Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets from the British military, supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker. French aircraft participated in this joint mission, enhancing the coalition’s efforts against IS militants, who have been a persistent threat in the region for over a decade.
The British air force deployed Paveway IV guided bombs to strike various access tunnels leading to the facility. The Defence Ministry reported that initial assessments indicate the strikes were successful, although a comprehensive evaluation is currently underway.
Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized the significance of this operation, stating, “This action shows our UK leadership and determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies to stamp out any resurgence of IS and its violent ideologies in the Middle East.”
There has been no immediate response from the Syrian government regarding these strikes. It is noteworthy that Syria officially joined the anti-IS coalition in late 2025, following the group’s territorial defeat in the country in 2019. Despite this defeat, IS sleeper cells continue to carry out deadly attacks across Syria and Iraq, regions where the extremists once declared their caliphate.
According to United Nations experts, IS still maintains a presence of approximately 5,000 to 7,000 members within its former strongholds in Syria and Iraq. The ongoing threat of IS was highlighted when the Trump administration conducted military strikes in Syria in December 2023, responding to an ambush that resulted in the deaths of two US troops and an American civilian interpreter near Palmyra.
The recent airstrikes by British and French forces exemplify the continued commitment of the US-led coalition to combat the remnants of the Islamic State and curb its influence in the region.
