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Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Syria airstrikes: Britain launches 'offensive operation' after vote to bomb Isis targets – rolling report | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 5.13am GMT05:13 | |
| Will British involvement in Syria make a difference? Agence France-Presse has cited a couple of foreign policy specialists, both of who have their doubts. | |
| “It will not make a big operational difference,” said Professor Malcolm Chalmers of military think-tank the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). | |
| “It is important symbolically, useful operationally, but not transformative.” | |
| Tim Eaton and Chris Phillips of foreign affairs think-tank Chatham House accused ministers of “knee-jerk reactions... not part of a well-considered long-term strategy to defeat and degrade IS”. | |
| “It is understandable that the British government doesn’t want to stand by as IS continues to terrorise or as Syria continues to be consumed by chaos but reaching for a quick military option like the one proposed is not the answer,” they wrote in an article for Prospect magazine. | |
| 4.59am GMT04:59 | |
| There are currently eight Tornado jets based at Akrotiri in Cyprus, but they are likely to be joined shortly by another two, my colleague Ewan MacAskill reports. | |
| Capt Richard Davies, a Tornado pilot and station commander, said on Wednesday the extra jets would allow the RAF to increase sorties from two a day. | |
| How soon could the RAF be in action over Syria, he was asked before the vote by MPs. “If a vote yes, if Tornados flying at that time and if there is a target in Syria, UK bombing could happen overnight … If all those ducks are aligned and the aircraft are airborne at that moment and a target comes up they will go. It depends where they are. If we are airborne in Iraq and the vote is yes, we could be targeting on that mission,” Davies said. | |
| Read the full story here | |
| Updated at 4.59am GMT | |
| 4.50am GMT04:50 | |
| More images from RAF Akrotiri of those four Tornado jets departing the base around two hours ago. | |
| Updated at 5.16am GMT | |
| 4.44am GMT04:44 | 4.44am GMT04:44 |
| According to the BBC, the four Tornados that left Cyprus in pairs at 03.00 GMT were carrying three 500lb (226kg) Paveway bombs each. Two have returned so far without the weapons. | According to the BBC, the four Tornados that left Cyprus in pairs at 03.00 GMT were carrying three 500lb (226kg) Paveway bombs each. Two have returned so far without the weapons. |
| 4.38am GMT04:38 | 4.38am GMT04:38 |
| Reuters is reporting that two of the four Tornado bombers that left RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus hours after the UK parliament authorised airstrikes in Syria have since returned to the base. | Reuters is reporting that two of the four Tornado bombers that left RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus hours after the UK parliament authorised airstrikes in Syria have since returned to the base. |
| “A strike was made from over Syria,” said a government source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. | “A strike was made from over Syria,” said a government source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. |
| The source declined to give further operational information about the targets or the number of aircraft involved, citing national security. | The source declined to give further operational information about the targets or the number of aircraft involved, citing national security. |
| A Reuters witness in Cyprus saw four jets leaving in pairs from the air base within an hour of each other. Two have since returned. | A Reuters witness in Cyprus saw four jets leaving in pairs from the air base within an hour of each other. Two have since returned. |
| RAF Akrotiri has been used as a launchpad for attacks on Islamic State targets in Iraq for just over a year, and late on Wednesday Britain’s parliament broadened its scope for targets within Syria. | RAF Akrotiri has been used as a launchpad for attacks on Islamic State targets in Iraq for just over a year, and late on Wednesday Britain’s parliament broadened its scope for targets within Syria. |
| After more than 10 hours of tense debate, members of parliament voted in favour of the air strikes, by 397 to 223. | After more than 10 hours of tense debate, members of parliament voted in favour of the air strikes, by 397 to 223. |
| In addressing parliament on Wednesday, Prime Minister David Cameron said high-precision, laser-guided Brimstone missiles attached to the Tornado GR4 bombers would help to make a real difference by hitting the de facto Islamic State capital of Raqqa and its oil-trading business. | In addressing parliament on Wednesday, Prime Minister David Cameron said high-precision, laser-guided Brimstone missiles attached to the Tornado GR4 bombers would help to make a real difference by hitting the de facto Islamic State capital of Raqqa and its oil-trading business. |
| France and the United States are already bombing Islamist militants in Syria, while Russia has bombed mainly other rebels, according to conflict monitors and Western officials, in an intervention launched on Sept. 30 to bolster its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The West says Assad must go. | France and the United States are already bombing Islamist militants in Syria, while Russia has bombed mainly other rebels, according to conflict monitors and Western officials, in an intervention launched on Sept. 30 to bolster its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The West says Assad must go. |
| Updated at 5.18am GMT | |
| 4.32am GMT04:32 | 4.32am GMT04:32 |
| Here’s our news wrap on this morning’s development: | Here’s our news wrap on this morning’s development: |
| Britain has carried out its first airstrikes in Syria, hours after MPs voted overwhelmingly to authorise military action. | Britain has carried out its first airstrikes in Syria, hours after MPs voted overwhelmingly to authorise military action. |
| RAF Tornado jets were seen taking off from the Akrotiri base in Cyprus and the Ministry of Defence later confirmed that they had carried out the “first offensive operation over Syria and have conducted strikes”. | RAF Tornado jets were seen taking off from the Akrotiri base in Cyprus and the Ministry of Defence later confirmed that they had carried out the “first offensive operation over Syria and have conducted strikes”. |
| The four RAF jets carry a range of munitions including Paveway IV guided bombs and precision-guided Brimstone missiles. Defence officials refused to be drawn on the targets of their mission. | The four RAF jets carry a range of munitions including Paveway IV guided bombs and precision-guided Brimstone missiles. Defence officials refused to be drawn on the targets of their mission. |
| Read the full story here | Read the full story here |
| Updated at 5.18am GMT | |
| 4.16am GMT04:16 | 4.16am GMT04:16 |
| Britain begins 'offensive operation' in Syria | Britain begins 'offensive operation' in Syria |
| British jets have struck targets in Syria, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed, hours after MPs voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday night to authorise an extension of bombing. | British jets have struck targets in Syria, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed, hours after MPs voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday night to authorise an extension of bombing. |
| Four RAF Tornado jets were seen taking off from their airbase at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus shortly after the vote. Their destination was not immediately clear but the MoD said in a statement jets had carried out the “first offensive operation over Syria and have conducted strikes”. | Four RAF Tornado jets were seen taking off from their airbase at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus shortly after the vote. Their destination was not immediately clear but the MoD said in a statement jets had carried out the “first offensive operation over Syria and have conducted strikes”. |
| Two aircraft have reportedly returned to the Cyprus airbase without their payloads, and another four are on standby. | Two aircraft have reportedly returned to the Cyprus airbase without their payloads, and another four are on standby. |
| The MoD has announced it will hold a press conference later this morning. | The MoD has announced it will hold a press conference later this morning. |
| We will update you with the latest developments here. | We will update you with the latest developments here. |
| Updated at 5.14am GMT |