UK launches first strikes on IS

British air force jets attacked Islamic State targets in Syria for the first time, the government said.

London - British air force jets attacked Islamic State targets in Syria for the first time, the government said early Thursday, just hours after the strikes were given parliamentary approval.

The strikes mean that Britain joins countries including the United States, France and Russia in attacking the extremist group in Syrian territory.

The Royal Air Force is already taking part in operations against Islamic State in Iraq.

Four RAF Tornado jets equipped with guided missiles took off from the Akrotiri base in Cyprus, the Ministry of Defence said.

The jets conducted the “first offensive operation over Syria and have conducted strikes,” a ministry spokesman said.

The bombings targeted an oil field under Islamic State control in eastern Syria, national broadcaster BBC reported.

Parliament voted decisively 397-223 late Wednesday in favour of launching the Syria air strikes, after an intense debate lasting 10 hours.

Islamic State forces control large stretches of Iraq and Syria, where they have moved to set up a governing structures adhering to an extreme interpretation of Islamic law.

DPA