UK launches air strikes in Syria

RAF Tornado jets have carried out their first air strikes against so-called Islamic State in Syria, the British Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

Four Tornados took off from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus shortly after MPs voted to approve bombing.

The strikes focused on six targets in an oil field under IS control in eastern Syria, the BBC reports. The Ministry of Defence is expected to give details of their targets later on today.

The targeting of oil infrastructure is part of its strategy to deprive the extremists of their funding and revenue streams.

The RAF was already carrying out operations against IS - also known as Daesh - in Iraq.

On Wednesday, MPs voted by 397 votes to 223 for UK action in Syria after a 10-hour Commons debate.

Following the vote, Prime Minister David Cameron said MPs had "taken the right decision to keep the country safe" but opponents said the move was a mistake. A total of 66 Labour MPs sided with the government as Cameron secured a larger than expected Commons majority.

Welcoming the Commons result, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Britain was "safer because of the actions taken by MPs today".

He added: "Military strikes alone won't help Syria, won't keep us safe from Daesh. But this multi-strand approach will.