RAF Tornados Hit IS With Fresh Airstrikes

By Tom Parmenter, RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus

British jets have hit more Islamic State targets in Iraq as calls grow for strikes against the group's Syrian strongholds.

A third round of aerial raids were carried out over northwest Iraq with RAF Tornado jets carrying out a "precision" strike on IS fighters who were fighting Kurdish troops.

The airstrike used Paveway IV guided bombs and initial reports indicated the attack was successful, said the Ministry of Defence.

Earlier, a second round of raids took place overnight west of Baghdad as Tornados worked to support Iraqi forces below.

The latest airstrikes were carried out by RAF Tornados based in Cyprus

The Tornado crews identified a suspected IS command and control position and fired four Brimstone missiles at two vehicles - one of which was an armed pick-up truck.

The Tornados landed safely at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus before dawn.

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1. Gallery: The Moment RAF Jet Attacks IS Truck

   The RAF has carried out its first airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq. (All pictures: MoD)

2. Tornados destroyed a heavy weapon position, which was attacking Kurdish forces, and an armed pick-up truck (pictured). The red circle shows the path of the missile fired at the vehicle

3. The strikes were the first since MPs voted to support aerial raids in Iraq last Friday

4. The targets were in the northwest of Iraq

5. The moment the truck, which had a mounted machine gun, was destroyed by a Brimstone missile

6. A plume of smoke rose above the area

7. The strike was successful, according to an initial assessment, said Defence Secretary Michael Fallon

8. The Tornados safely returned to their base at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus after the sortie

9. Six of the GR4 fighter jets are based on the island in the Mediterranean

10. The aircraft began their combat missions on Saturday

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "Initial analysis indicates that the strikes were successful."

RAF fighter jets took out a heavy weapon position and another armed truck on Tuesday - the first airstrikes of the UK military campaign.

The MoD released footage of the raids in support of Kurdish troops who were being attacked by IS insurgents in the northwest of the country.

Video: Tornado Returns From Strike Mission

The Brimstone missiles are often used to hit moving targets such as vehicles and cost around £105,000 each.

Five Brimstones have now been deployed so far, along with several Paveway bombs, which costs around £22,000.

Unlike the first strikes, the MoD said images of the latest attack would not immediately be released.

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1. Gallery: RAF Tornados Pictured In Mission Over Iraq

   RAF Tornado GR4s were pictured over Iraq as they began their armed combat mission in support of Operation Shader

2. The images were taken as the Tornados were being refuelled in mid-air by a RAF Voyager aircraft

3. The Ministry of Defence says the Tornados are now flying daily over northern Iraq

4. They are supporting the US military in its efforts to target Islamic State militants

5. The RAF carried out two sorties over Iraq on Saturday

6. In both missions the fighter bombers did not use their weapons

7. But the Ministry of Defence said "invaluable intelligence" had been gathered using the planes' surveillance equipment

8. Click on to see more photos of the Tornados in action...

Security has been stepped up across Cyprus now British airstrikes have begun from RAF Akrotiri and security teams have been making checks outside the base itself.

The UK is supporting Iraqi and Kurdish forces battling Sunni Muslim extremists from IS, also known as ISIL and ISIS, which has taken over large parts of Iraq in recent months.

Despite IS also seizing territory in Syria, a vote in Parliament last Friday did not include the authorisation of airstrikes over the country.

Video: IS Threat: Baghdad 'Crisis Point'

But speaking at a fringe meeting at the Conservative conference in Birmingham, Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said Cabinet ministers believe strikes against Syrian targets will also be necessary.

"I believe ultimately that is exactly what we will have to do ... The Prime Minister believes that. He said as much in his speech," he said.

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