French Rafale jets carry out joint strikes on Islamic State targets in Syria with UK forces
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France and the United Kingdom conducted coordinated nighttime airstrikes in Syria under Operation Chammal, using assets from the French Air Force alongside coalition partners. The operation highlights continued European military involvement in Syria and sustained reliance on frontline combat aircraft for precision strike missions.
French military sources confirmed that the operation was carried out under Operation Chammal, France’s national contribution to the international coalition, using air assets from the French Air Force in coordination with the United Kingdom. While official communications did not release a detailed order of battle, multiple defense sources indicated that Dassault Rafale multirole fighter aircraft were employed, consistent with France’s established strike posture in the Syrian theater.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
As Operation Inherent Resolve continues into 2026, French defense officials maintain that air power, centered on the Rafale and its associated sensor and weapon systems, remains a critical tool to prevent Daesh from rebuilding military infrastructure (Picture source: French MoD)
The Rafale, regarded as the backbone of French expeditionary air power, combines air superiority, deep strike, and intelligence capabilities within a single platform. In operations over Syria, the aircraft is typically equipped with the Thales Talios targeting pod, providing high-resolution electro-optical and infrared imagery for precise target identification, even against concealed or underground objectives. This sensor suite allows French pilots to conduct real-time target verification and strike execution while remaining fully integrated into the coalition’s command and control architecture via secure data links.
For strike missions against fortified or semi-buried targets, French Rafale fighters are commonly armed with AASM Hammer precision-guided munitions, developed by Safran. The AASM family offers GPS, inertial, and optional infrared guidance, enabling high accuracy against fixed targets from stand-off distances. Its modular design allows the weapon to adapt to hardened infrastructure, making it particularly suited for operations against underground facilities and tunnel networks used by terrorist organizations to hide arms and explosives.
French aircraft operated in tight coordination with Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 jets, illustrating a high level of Franco-British interoperability. British aircraft focused on engaging access points to the underground structure using Paveway IV guided bombs, while French assets contributed to strike execution, mission planning, and coalition coordination. Defense officials familiar with the operation underline that the mission reflects long-standing bilateral cooperation between Paris and London in expeditionary air operations, building on shared procedures, common standards, and regular joint training within NATO and coalition frameworks.
France’s role extended beyond the kinetic strike itself. French officers were involved in the intelligence fusion and targeting cycle that preceded the operation, integrating coalition intelligence with French airborne surveillance and analysis. This approach reflects Paris’s emphasis on intelligence-led operations, where air power is used not only as a strike tool but as part of a broader system designed to disrupt terrorist logistics and operational depth.
Since 2014, France has been one of the most active European contributors to Operation Inherent Resolve. Under Operation Chammal, French forces have accumulated extensive combat experience in Iraq and Syria, conducting strike missions, armed reconnaissance, and command and control functions. The Rafale’s ability to switch rapidly between roles during a single sortie has been repeatedly highlighted by French commanders as a decisive advantage in a fluid counterterrorism environment.
Strategically, the latest strikes near Palmyra send a clear signal that France remains committed to sustained counterterrorism pressure in Syria, despite evolving global security demands. By employing high-end combat aircraft and advanced precision-guided weapons in a coordinated allied framework, Paris demonstrates its capability to act decisively against residual Islamic State networks while reinforcing the credibility of European military contributions within the coalition.
As Operation Inherent Resolve continues into 2026, French defense officials maintain that air power, centered on the Rafale and its associated sensor and weapon systems, remains a critical tool to prevent Daesh from rebuilding military infrastructure. The joint operation with the United Kingdom highlights how French combat aviation continues to play a central role in coalition efforts to contain and suppress the enduring threat posed by Islamic State remnants in Syria.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
France and the United Kingdom conducted coordinated nighttime airstrikes in Syria under Operation Chammal, using assets from the French Air Force alongside coalition partners. The operation highlights continued European military involvement in Syria and sustained reliance on frontline combat aircraft for precision strike missions.
French military sources confirmed that the operation was carried out under Operation Chammal, France’s national contribution to the international coalition, using air assets from the French Air Force in coordination with the United Kingdom. While official communications did not release a detailed order of battle, multiple defense sources indicated that Dassault Rafale multirole fighter aircraft were employed, consistent with France’s established strike posture in the Syrian theater.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
As Operation Inherent Resolve continues into 2026, French defense officials maintain that air power, centered on the Rafale and its associated sensor and weapon systems, remains a critical tool to prevent Daesh from rebuilding military infrastructure (Picture source: French MoD)
The Rafale, regarded as the backbone of French expeditionary air power, combines air superiority, deep strike, and intelligence capabilities within a single platform. In operations over Syria, the aircraft is typically equipped with the Thales Talios targeting pod, providing high-resolution electro-optical and infrared imagery for precise target identification, even against concealed or underground objectives. This sensor suite allows French pilots to conduct real-time target verification and strike execution while remaining fully integrated into the coalition’s command and control architecture via secure data links.
For strike missions against fortified or semi-buried targets, French Rafale fighters are commonly armed with AASM Hammer precision-guided munitions, developed by Safran. The AASM family offers GPS, inertial, and optional infrared guidance, enabling high accuracy against fixed targets from stand-off distances. Its modular design allows the weapon to adapt to hardened infrastructure, making it particularly suited for operations against underground facilities and tunnel networks used by terrorist organizations to hide arms and explosives.
French aircraft operated in tight coordination with Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 jets, illustrating a high level of Franco-British interoperability. British aircraft focused on engaging access points to the underground structure using Paveway IV guided bombs, while French assets contributed to strike execution, mission planning, and coalition coordination. Defense officials familiar with the operation underline that the mission reflects long-standing bilateral cooperation between Paris and London in expeditionary air operations, building on shared procedures, common standards, and regular joint training within NATO and coalition frameworks.
France’s role extended beyond the kinetic strike itself. French officers were involved in the intelligence fusion and targeting cycle that preceded the operation, integrating coalition intelligence with French airborne surveillance and analysis. This approach reflects Paris’s emphasis on intelligence-led operations, where air power is used not only as a strike tool but as part of a broader system designed to disrupt terrorist logistics and operational depth.
Since 2014, France has been one of the most active European contributors to Operation Inherent Resolve. Under Operation Chammal, French forces have accumulated extensive combat experience in Iraq and Syria, conducting strike missions, armed reconnaissance, and command and control functions. The Rafale’s ability to switch rapidly between roles during a single sortie has been repeatedly highlighted by French commanders as a decisive advantage in a fluid counterterrorism environment.
Strategically, the latest strikes near Palmyra send a clear signal that France remains committed to sustained counterterrorism pressure in Syria, despite evolving global security demands. By employing high-end combat aircraft and advanced precision-guided weapons in a coordinated allied framework, Paris demonstrates its capability to act decisively against residual Islamic State networks while reinforcing the credibility of European military contributions within the coalition.
As Operation Inherent Resolve continues into 2026, French defense officials maintain that air power, centered on the Rafale and its associated sensor and weapon systems, remains a critical tool to prevent Daesh from rebuilding military infrastructure. The joint operation with the United Kingdom highlights how French combat aviation continues to play a central role in coalition efforts to contain and suppress the enduring threat posed by Islamic State remnants in Syria.
