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| Syria air strikes: David Cameron warns of long campaign | Syria air strikes: David Cameron warns of long campaign |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The mission to target so-called Islamic State militants in Syria could take some time and will require persistence, PM David Cameron has said. | The mission to target so-called Islamic State militants in Syria could take some time and will require persistence, PM David Cameron has said. |
| RAF Tornados conducted air strikes on six targets in Syria, "successfully" attacking an IS-controlled oilfield, the Ministry of Defence confirmed. | RAF Tornados conducted air strikes on six targets in Syria, "successfully" attacking an IS-controlled oilfield, the Ministry of Defence confirmed. |
| There will be "strong support from our allies" for the action, the PM added. | There will be "strong support from our allies" for the action, the PM added. |
| It comes as two additional Tornados and six Typhoons have arrived in the region from the UK to take part in attacks. | |
| Speaking after the strikes, Mr Cameron said the operation in Syria would require "patience". | Speaking after the strikes, Mr Cameron said the operation in Syria would require "patience". |
| "It is complex and it is difficult what we are asking our pilots to do, and our thoughts should be with them and their families as they commence this important work," he said. | "It is complex and it is difficult what we are asking our pilots to do, and our thoughts should be with them and their families as they commence this important work," he said. |
| The decision to approve the mission was "good for the country", the prime minister said, adding: "There was a compelling case for extending our air strikes from Iraq to Syria, and I was glad to see such strong support right across parliament." | The decision to approve the mission was "good for the country", the prime minister said, adding: "There was a compelling case for extending our air strikes from Iraq to Syria, and I was glad to see such strong support right across parliament." |
| MPs overwhelmingly backed UK military action against IS - also known as Daesh - in Syria, by 397 votes to 223, after a 10-hour Commons debate on Wednesday. | MPs overwhelmingly backed UK military action against IS - also known as Daesh - in Syria, by 397 votes to 223, after a 10-hour Commons debate on Wednesday. |
| Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the MoD would be assessing the damage done by the first strikes, saying he had personally approved the targets ahead of the Commons vote. | Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the MoD would be assessing the damage done by the first strikes, saying he had personally approved the targets ahead of the Commons vote. |
| He said the aim was to strike "a very real blow on the oil and revenue on which Daesh depends". | He said the aim was to strike "a very real blow on the oil and revenue on which Daesh depends". |
| A White House spokesman welcomed Parliament's approval of action in Syria, saying "we congratulate the UK on the strikes overnight". | |
| 'Urgency' over oilfields | 'Urgency' over oilfields |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the IS-controlled Omar oilfield in eastern Syria - hit by UK air strikes - was one of eight oilfields targeted by coalition forces. | |
| He said the decision to target oilfields may have been a political one - to avoid civilian casualties. | He said the decision to target oilfields may have been a political one - to avoid civilian casualties. |
| But our correspondent said there was now "an urgency" among US-led forces to "close down" IS sources of revenue. | But our correspondent said there was now "an urgency" among US-led forces to "close down" IS sources of revenue. |
| The oilfield at Omar potentially represents more than 10% of its income, the MoD said. | The oilfield at Omar potentially represents more than 10% of its income, the MoD said. |
| Mr Fallon also confirmed two Tornados and six Typhoons were being sent to join the eight jets already at the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus, from where UK operations in Iraq have been launched. | Mr Fallon also confirmed two Tornados and six Typhoons were being sent to join the eight jets already at the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus, from where UK operations in Iraq have been launched. |
| The Typhoons left RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland, to join the air strikes. | The Typhoons left RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland, to join the air strikes. |
| The view from Damascus | The view from Damascus |
| By BBC chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet | By BBC chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet |
| This morning's newspapers in Damascus reiterate criticism Syrian officials have made for years about the West's engagement here. | This morning's newspapers in Damascus reiterate criticism Syrian officials have made for years about the West's engagement here. |
| "Britain didn't ask permission from Syria's government," declares the state news agency SANA. "Cameron told lies," it says. | "Britain didn't ask permission from Syria's government," declares the state news agency SANA. "Cameron told lies," it says. |
| Syrian officials insist Britain and its allies must follow Russia's example and co-ordinate their campaign with Syrian government forces. If they don't, they warn, they simply won't succeed. | Syrian officials insist Britain and its allies must follow Russia's example and co-ordinate their campaign with Syrian government forces. If they don't, they warn, they simply won't succeed. |
| The deadlock over President Assad's future role will continue to block the formation of a unified command against a common enemy. It will also stand in the way of Britain's pledge that it will now also focus on finding a negotiated way out of this war. | The deadlock over President Assad's future role will continue to block the formation of a unified command against a common enemy. It will also stand in the way of Britain's pledge that it will now also focus on finding a negotiated way out of this war. |
| Syrian activists and opposition groups feel bitterly let down that the West did not give them this kind of military support to help remove President Assad. | Syrian activists and opposition groups feel bitterly let down that the West did not give them this kind of military support to help remove President Assad. |
| And the many Syrians exhausted by war want, most of all, to believe Britain's promise that it's stepping up the fight to "win the peace" - as hard as that is. | And the many Syrians exhausted by war want, most of all, to believe Britain's promise that it's stepping up the fight to "win the peace" - as hard as that is. |
| Syrian state media reacts with scorn | Syrian state media reacts with scorn |
| Mr Fallon said there was a "very rigorous" process by which targets were chosen, and all British military action would adhere to "very strict rules of engagement". | Mr Fallon said there was a "very rigorous" process by which targets were chosen, and all British military action would adhere to "very strict rules of engagement". |
| Asked how long the UK might be involved in the coalition campaign against IS in Syria, he said it would "not be quick", but argued it had not been right to leave bombing to other air forces. | Asked how long the UK might be involved in the coalition campaign against IS in Syria, he said it would "not be quick", but argued it had not been right to leave bombing to other air forces. |
| On the issue of ground forces, he said the prime minister of Iraq had made it very clear he did not want Western troops on the ground to fight IS. | On the issue of ground forces, he said the prime minister of Iraq had made it very clear he did not want Western troops on the ground to fight IS. |
| In a statement, the MoD said the British jets - supported by a Voyager air refuelling tanker, an unmanned Reaper drone and other coalition aircraft - had attacked six targets. | In a statement, the MoD said the British jets - supported by a Voyager air refuelling tanker, an unmanned Reaper drone and other coalition aircraft - had attacked six targets. |
| "Carefully selected elements of the oilfield infrastructure were targeted, ensuring the strikes will have a significant impact on Daesh's ability to extract the oil to fund their terrorism," it said. | "Carefully selected elements of the oilfield infrastructure were targeted, ensuring the strikes will have a significant impact on Daesh's ability to extract the oil to fund their terrorism," it said. |
| Before the attacks, pilots used the aircrafts' sensors to confirm "no civilians were in the proximity of the targets", it stated. | Before the attacks, pilots used the aircrafts' sensors to confirm "no civilians were in the proximity of the targets", it stated. |
| Air strikes were launched shortly after Parliament approved UK military action in Syria, after MPs debated the issue on Wednesday. | Air strikes were launched shortly after Parliament approved UK military action in Syria, after MPs debated the issue on Wednesday. |
| A total of 66 Labour MPs - 29% of the parliamentary party - sided with the government as it secured a larger than expected Commons majority. | A total of 66 Labour MPs - 29% of the parliamentary party - sided with the government as it secured a larger than expected Commons majority. |
| Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross has said the situation in Syria is "catastrophic", with more than 12 million Syrians in need of "immediate humanitarian assistance". | Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross has said the situation in Syria is "catastrophic", with more than 12 million Syrians in need of "immediate humanitarian assistance". |
| The RAF has been carrying out operations against IS in Iraq since last year. | The RAF has been carrying out operations against IS in Iraq since last year. |
| To date, the US has conducted nearly all of the air strikes in Syria and Iraq, with France, Australia and Denmark also taking part. | To date, the US has conducted nearly all of the air strikes in Syria and Iraq, with France, Australia and Denmark also taking part. |