British jets target Islamic State oil facilities

LONDON — British Tornado jets struck oil fields in eastern Syria on Thursday that help finance the Islamic State group, and Germany prepared to send reconnaissance aircraft to the Middle East as coalition forces stepped up efforts to fight the militants.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, called for “one powerful fist” in the global fight against the Islamic State group, after the downing of a Russian jetliner over Egypt and last month’s attacks in Paris, both claimed by the extremist group.

“We must leave all arguments and disagreements behind and make one powerful fist, a single antiterror front, which would work on the basis of international law under the aegis of the United Nations,” Putin said, addressing lawmakers and top officials gathered in an ornate Kremlin hall.

Germany’s government said it planned to send up to six Tornado reconnaissance planes, tanker aircraft and a frigate to help protect the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the eastern Mediterranean, but won’t actively engage in combat.