UK and French Forces Strike Deep into Syria, Disrupting Islamic State's Secret Arsenal
In a joint operation, British Typhoon FGR4 combat jets and French forces have targeted an underground facility in the Syrian mountains, believed to be used by Islamic State (IS) to store deadly weapons and explosives. The attack, carried out on Saturday evening, was part of a broader effort to disrupt the group's resurgence.
According to official statements, guided bombs were dropped onto access tunnels leading to the site near the ancient city of Palmyra, with the target reportedly engaged successfully. A Voyager refuelling tanker provided air support for the operation.
The facility, located in an area deemed safe by the UK Ministry of Defence due to its absence of civilians, is thought to have been used to stockpile arms and explosives. The defence secretary, John Healey, described the mission as a key step in "standing shoulder to shoulder with our allies" to counter any potential resurgence of IS.
Healy praised the bravery of armed forces personnel involved in eliminating "dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life". The joint operation underscores Western efforts to maintain pressure on the militant group, which ruled parts of Syria until its territorial control was dismantled in 2019.
In a joint operation, British Typhoon FGR4 combat jets and French forces have targeted an underground facility in the Syrian mountains, believed to be used by Islamic State (IS) to store deadly weapons and explosives. The attack, carried out on Saturday evening, was part of a broader effort to disrupt the group's resurgence.
According to official statements, guided bombs were dropped onto access tunnels leading to the site near the ancient city of Palmyra, with the target reportedly engaged successfully. A Voyager refuelling tanker provided air support for the operation.
The facility, located in an area deemed safe by the UK Ministry of Defence due to its absence of civilians, is thought to have been used to stockpile arms and explosives. The defence secretary, John Healey, described the mission as a key step in "standing shoulder to shoulder with our allies" to counter any potential resurgence of IS.
Healy praised the bravery of armed forces personnel involved in eliminating "dangerous terrorists who threaten our way of life". The joint operation underscores Western efforts to maintain pressure on the militant group, which ruled parts of Syria until its territorial control was dismantled in 2019.
The fact that they targeted a secret arsenal in the Syrian mountains is pretty interesting. I mean, who needs that many explosives just lying around? 
But seriously, it's good to see Western forces working together to take down IS. They did some major damage back in 2019 when they lost their territory, and now they're trying to keep the pressure on. The thing is, we can't let our guard down, not even with all these operations. There are always gonna be some bad eggs out there who wanna cause trouble. 
Anyway, it's a good move, in my humble opinion 
n what's up with all these military ops in syria lol is it just a big ol game of whack a mole or wot? 
. These airstrikes in Syria are like a ticking time bomb - you never know what's gonna happen next. The fact that they managed to hit the ISIS secret arsenal is a huge win for the international community 
. But let's not forget, there's still so much work to be done 
.
. I mean, I know we're supposed to be "standing shoulder to shoulder" with our allies, but at what cost? The human toll is so real and it's hard to ignore 
.
It's time for a more nuanced approach, imo 
and I'm thinking... is it ever gonna end? 
. It's like, can't we just leave them alone to find peace or something? 
But I guess that's not how it works when you've got terrorists on the loose 
. The fact that they found an underground bunker in Palmyra 
is crazy tho! 
, but can't we do it without making more refugees run away? 
. This highlights the importance of accurate intelligence and pre-emptive strikes to minimize civilian casualties.
. The defence secretary's statement about standing "shoulder to shoulder with our allies" reinforces the notion that collective efforts can be a powerful deterrent against extremist groups 
.