Syria air strikes: RAF jets carry out second mission

RAF fighter jets have targeted another oilfield during their second combat mission in Syria.

Britain launched airstrikes on a Syrian oilfield on Wednesday after the Prime Minister won the backing of a large majority of MPs.

Since coalition air operations began a year ago, the RAF base at Akrotiri has been home to extensive air capabilities, including Tornado GR4s, Voyager air-to-air refueling aircraft, C130 transport aircraft, and Sentinel surveillance aircraft, according to the MoD statement.

Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon speaks to pilots and ground crew at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, as RAF jets at the base continue bombing runs over Syria.

He said: “Last night (Friday) we had the Tornados in action, the Typhoons in action and our unmanned Reapers in action – all of them striking ISIL Daesh (IS) where it hurts”.

Now two more Tornado warplanes and six Typhoons are being sent from Britain out to RAF Akritiri in Cyprus, from where the current squadron of eight Tornados is already flying missions against IS in Iraq.

“Early reports suggest that they were successful”, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

“These targets are very carefully selected to minimise any risk to civilians or collateral damage”, he said.

“Our aircraft then remained on patrol to collect intelligence on possible terrorist positions and be ready to strike any further targets that might be identified in eastern Syria or western Iraq”.

“It’s not what we do that they oppose, it’s what we are”.

Pam Currie, vice president of the Educational Institute of Scotland’s Further Education Lecturers’ Association (EIS-FELA), said: “We have been told there is no money for lecturers, class teachers and frontline services, and yet overnight they can find millions of pounds to bomb Syria”. “And it derives from Syria”, he said.

Fallon said the decision will make the streets “in Britain safer, as we take the fight to where Daesh (IS) plot attacks on our people and our allies”.

British warplanes have carried out airstrikes in Syria, hours after Parliament voted to authorize air attacks against Islamic State group targets there.

And in a continuation of operations in Iraq, two Tornados “silenced” a “terrorist” sniper team with a “direct hit” from a Paveway IV guided bomb, it added.

They also carried out a dozen air strikes against Islamic State tactical units in two other Syrian cities on an unusual day when strikes in Syria exceeded those in Iraq.