UK And France Launch Joint Airstrikes On ISIS Targets In Syria To Prevent Militant Resurgence
UK and French forces carried out coordinated strikes on ISIS positions in central Syria, signalling continued Western resolve to deny the group any opportunity to regroup amid ongoing instability. Image courtesy: AI generated picture via DALL-E
Britain and France have carried out joint airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in central Syria, underscoring renewed Western efforts to prevent the terror group from staging a comeback in the war-torn country.
The coordinated operation, conducted on the night of January 3, 2026, targeted an underground ISIS facility believed to have been used to store weapons and explosives.
What did UK, France say about the air operations?
Both governments said the strikes were designed to disrupt ISIS’s operational capabilities and deny the group safe havens in Syria’s vast desert regions.
The British Ministry of Defence confirmed that Royal Air Force aircraft worked alongside French forces to hit the site, stressing that the area was uninhabited and that there was no indication of civilian harm. The target was located north of the historic city of Palmyra.
France said the action was part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the US-led international coalition established to combat ISIS across Iraq and Syria, and previously in Libya.
French armed forces said preventing the resurgence of ISIS remains a “major issue for the security of the region,” highlighting continued concerns about militant activity despite the group’s territorial defeat in 2019.
How is ISIS maintaining sleeper cells in Syria?
ISIS lost its self-proclaimed caliphate in Syria nearly six years ago, but intelligence assessments indicate that the group retains sleeper cells and logistical networks, particularly in remote desert areas. These remnants have periodically launched attacks on local forces and international personnel.
The latest strikes come amid a fragile security environment in Syria, where President Ahmed al-Sharaa is attempting to consolidate control and stabilise the country following the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad just over a year ago.
Western governments remain wary that political uncertainty could create space for jihadist groups to regroup.
Why has Palmyra been an ISIS target for years now?
Palmyra, home to UNESCO-listed ancient ruins, has long been a strategic and symbolic target for ISIS. In December, a lone ISIS gunman attacked US personnel in the Palmyra area, killing two American soldiers and a civilian, prompting US forces to carry out retaliatory strikes on multiple ISIS positions.
The UK-France operation signals continued international resolve to keep pressure on ISIS and prevent the group from exploiting Syria’s instability to rebuild its strength.
