News story

Update: air strikes against Daesh

The RAF are continuing to take the fight to Daesh in Iraq and Syria.

From:
Ministry of Defence
Published
27 April 2024
Last updated
13 January 2026 — See all updates

A Royal Air Force Typhoon departs on a mission supporting Operation Shader in support of the Counter-Daesh operations in Iraq and Syria. Crown Copyright.

Saturday 3 January 2026

Royal Air Force aircraft have continued to conduct patrols over Syria to help prevent any attempted resurgence of the Daesh terrorist movement following its military defeat at Baghuz Fawqani in March 2019. Careful intelligence analysis identified an underground facility, in the mountains some miles north of the ancient site of Palmyra. This facility had been occupied by Daesh, most likely to store weapons and explosives. The area around the facility is devoid of any civilian habitation.

RAF Typhoon FGR4s, supported by a Voyager refuelling tanker, therefore joined French aircraft in a joint strike on the underground facility on the evening of Saturday 3 January.  Our aircraft used Paveway IV guided bombs to target a number of access tunnels down to the facility; whilst detailed assessment is now underway, initial indications are that the target was engaged successfully. There is no indication of any risk having been posed to civilians by the strike, and all our aircraft returned safely.

British forces air strikes in Iraq and Syria: monthly list

Updates to this page

Published 27 April 2024
Last updated 13 January 2026 show all updates

  1. Added information on the air strike conducted on 3 January 2026.

  2. Webpage updated with details of an air strike against Daesh on 28 September 2025.

  3. 3 November 2025 Webpage updated with details of an air strike against Daesh on 4 September 2025.

  4. Updated to add 10 June strike

  5. Webpage updated with details of an air strike against Daesh on 25 February 2025.

  6. Webpage updated with details of an air strike against Daesh on 18 June 2024.

  7. Updated page to include 21 April 2024 strike. Previously listed strike below removed: * Tuesday 2 May 2023 - RAF Typhoons struck two Daesh terrorist targets in north eastern Iraq.

  8. First published.

  9. Updated with details of an air strike on 2 May 2023.

  10. Date of the most recent strike updated to clarify that it occurred in 2022. Previous strike updates removed and added to the guidance page "British forces air strikes in Iraq and Syria: monthly list".

  11. Updated with details of a strike on 20 December 2022.

  12. Update: RAF Reaper strike on Daesh terrorist in Iraq

  13. Update: RAF Reaper strike on Daesh terrorists in Iraq

  14. Updated strike statement

  15. Updated on Saturday 27 November.

  16. Updated strike statement

  17. Added content under useful information heading.

  18. Updated Strike Statement

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  20. Update on latest strikes

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