"Fatigue from the Normalization of Bombing": The Current State of Western Counterterrorism as Seen in the French and British Airstrikes in Syria

1) What Happened: UK and France "Jointly" Attack Syria's "Underground Facility"

The air forces of the UK and France jointly conducted an airstrike on an underground facility in central Syria, believed to be related to ISIS (Daesh). According to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), the operation was carried out on the night of Saturday, January 3, 2026, in the mountainous area north of Palmyra, known for its ancient ruins. The underground facility was likely used for storing weapons and explosives. NDTV Profit

The operation's focus was less on "directly destroying the underground facility" and more on precisely targeting the "entrance-access tunnels" leading underground. The UK explained that RAF Typhoon FGR4, supported by an air refueling Voyager, collaborated with French aircraft to attack multiple tunnels with Paveway IV guided bombs. GOV.UK

2) UK's Explanation: "No Civilian Residences," "Initial Assessment Successful"

The UK government repeatedly emphasized in its announcement that there were **"no civilian residences nearby."** The MoD stated that the area was devoid of civilian habitation, and there were no signs of danger to civilians at present. While detailed damage assessment (BDA) is ongoing, the initial assessment indicated that the attack on the target was successful. GOV.UK

UK Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized the determination to prevent the resurgence of ISIS "shoulder to shoulder" with allies and expressed gratitude to the British military forces deployed over the New Year period. NDTV Profit

3) France's Position: Counterterrorism Priority and "Preventing Resurgence"

According to the Associated Press, the French military also stated on social media (X) that the purpose of this attack was to "prevent the resurgence" of ISIS, emphasizing that counterterrorism is a priority for France and its partners. In other words, both the UK and France are positioning this operation not as a "one-off retaliation" but as a commitment to continue counterterrorism efforts. AP News

4) Why "Underground": The Significance of Targeting Tunnels

While ground bases are easily targeted through reconnaissance, surveillance, and airstrikes, underground facilities are naturally shielded and suitable for supply and concealment. Therefore, the critical points are the "vulnerable points" such as entrances and ventilation shafts. The UK government's explicit mention of "access tunnels" suggests that the focus was more on making entry impossible and "disabling" the facility rather than causing a complete collapse of the underground facility. GOV.UK

5) ISIS Has Not Disappeared "Post-Defeat": Remaining Forces and Security Gaps

While ISIS's "military defeat" in Syria was declared in 2019, the AP reports that sleeper cells continue to carry out deadly attacks in Syria and Iraq. UN experts estimate that ISIS maintains a force of 5,000 to 7,000 in Syria and Iraq. The UK and French operations are driven by concerns over this "remaining and re-spreading" threat. AP News

6) Syrian Government's Reaction and "Legitimacy": Silence Sparks Debate

The AP reports that there was no immediate comment from the Syrian government following the attack. This "reaction gap" easily stimulates debates on social media about whether there was permission or if it constitutes a violation of sovereignty. AP News

On the other hand, the fact that the operation is framed as an "anti-ISIS measure" makes it easier to garner support from parts of international public opinion. Thus, the focus of the debate is likely to shift from the legitimacy of targeting ISIS to (1) the accuracy of the targets, (2) the transparency of civilian risk assessments, and (3) the medium- to long-term political consequences.

7) Social Media Reactions: Support and Skepticism Coexist on the Same Timeline

The incident also sparked strong reactions on social media. Particularly on Reddit (r/worldnews), a wide range of comments, from brief praises to political debates, coexist, reflecting a significant temperature difference. Reddit

A) Straightforward Support: "Good," "We Should Stop Terrorism"

Short comments supporting the operation itself stand out on the thread. Reactions like "Great" and "Good. We need to stop terrorism asap." show intuitive support for counterterrorism. Reddit

Underlying this is the memory of the atrocities committed by ISIS in the past and the sense of crisis that "if left unchecked, more harm will occur again."

B) "Intervention Fatigue" and Distance: "Whose Problem Is It Anyway?"

While there is support, there is also a sense of distancing with reactions like "Whole lot of not our problem," reflecting fatigue and division of interest in overseas military interventions, separate from the cause of counterterrorism. Reddit

C) Legitimacy and Double Standards Debate: "Isn't the Treatment Different for the Same Actions?"

Within the same thread, discussions often shift to international situations in other regions (e.g., military actions by other countries), with criticisms of double standards like "If another country did the same thing, wouldn't the reaction be the opposite?" Supporters of the operation argue that "the decisive difference is that the target is ISIS," and the debate tends to develop into a political discussion about "who can intervene to what extent." Reddit

8) Future Focus: "Success" Has More Than One Definition

While the UK government hints at success in its initial assessment, damage assessment of the underground facility is difficult to visualize and will be verified over time. GOV.UK
The true evaluation will be questioned in the following three stages.

1. Tactical Success: How much the functions (storage and transportation) of the underground facility were halted

2. Strategic Success: Whether ISIS activities decrease and do not lead to retaliation or spread to other regions AP News

3. Political Success: Whether the responsibility for explaining civilian casualties and legal legitimacy is fulfilled and support is maintained GOV.UK

The joint UK-France airstrike demonstrates a continuation of counterterrorism efforts, while social media reflects the reality that "agreement on necessity" and "doubts about intervention and legitimacy" coexist. As more information (damage assessments and movements of related organizations) becomes available, evaluations will be updated based on more concrete evidence. GOV.UK