Obama welcomes British vote to join Syria air campaign

The AP reported that a Ministry of Defense spokesperson confirmed the airstrikes and further details would be released Thursday.

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

Labor was divided. Party leader Jeremy Corbyn – who represents the left wing – spoke against what he called a “half-baked intervention”.

Britain’s parliament looks set to vote in favour of joining the bombing campaign against the Islamic State group in Syria, despite growing doubts among the public and some MPs.

“Britain is safer tonight because of the decision the House of Commons has taken”, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told Sky News.

The strikes come just hours after the United Kingdom prime minister David Cameron, successfully passed a motion authorising strikes in Syria, with 397 MPs voting in favour, and 223 voting against.

A YouGov opinion poll showed voter support for military action in Syria had fallen to the lowest level since September 2014, with 48 per cent of respondents supporting strikes and 31 per cent opposing.

If support is gained from members from all parties, subsequent air strikes will target ISIL headquarters in Raqqa in Syria, where ISIL plans and orchestrates its activities.

Earlier, Tornado jets carrying a range of munitions including Paveway IV guided bombs and precision-guided Brimstone missiles took off from the Cyprus base and reportedly targeted an oil field in eastern Syria.

Although he believes “it is important to stand by our allies”, Mr Rosindell has criticised Mr Cameron for not having “a proper strategy”, which would considers the wider implications of air strikes in Syria.

Cameron has wanted to extend Britain s role in the fight against IS for months but made a fresh push which led to the vote after last month s Paris attacks which killed 130 people.

“I urge members on all sides of the House to think very carefully about the responsibility that lies with them today”, he said.

A total of 66 Labour MPs sided with the government as David Cameron secured a larger than expected Commons majority.

Cameron used his speech Wednesday to remind Britons of Islamic State backing for June attacks in Tunisia that claimed the lives of numerous British tourists.

U.S. President Barack Obama welcomed the British move and said the coalition would work “to integrate them into our coalition air tasking orders as quickly as possible”.