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Islamic State vehicles targeted by RAF Tornados Islamic State vehicles targeted by RAF Tornados
(about 2 hours later)
RAF jets fired four missiles at Islamic State (IS) vehicles in Iraq overnight, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.RAF jets fired four missiles at Islamic State (IS) vehicles in Iraq overnight, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.
It said two Tornados had fired Brimstone missiles at an armed pick-up truck and a transport vehicle west of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, adding that the strikes had been "successful".It said two Tornados had fired Brimstone missiles at an armed pick-up truck and a transport vehicle west of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, adding that the strikes had been "successful".
On Tuesday RAF Tornados carried out their first strikes, on a "heavy weapon position" and an armed pick-up truck.On Tuesday RAF Tornados carried out their first strikes, on a "heavy weapon position" and an armed pick-up truck.
Those attacks came four days after Parliament approved military action.Those attacks came four days after Parliament approved military action.
Commenting on the latest sorties, the MoD said the jets had been sent to examine a suspected command and control position of IS, the militant group also known as Isis or Isil.Commenting on the latest sorties, the MoD said the jets had been sent to examine a suspected command and control position of IS, the militant group also known as Isis or Isil.
"At the scene they were able to identify Isil activity and two vehicles, one of which was an armed pick-up truck," it said."At the scene they were able to identify Isil activity and two vehicles, one of which was an armed pick-up truck," it said.
"Four Brimstone missiles were used to conduct a precision attack on the vehicles. Initial analysis indicates that the strikes were successful.""Four Brimstone missiles were used to conduct a precision attack on the vehicles. Initial analysis indicates that the strikes were successful."
There has been no independent confirmation about the targets. There has been no independent confirmation of the targets.
Reconnaissance mission 'We must respond'
About 40 nations have joined a coalition to tackle IS, which has seized large parts of Iraq and Syria in the past few months. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon told the Conservative party conference in Birmingham that RAF planes had been conducting daily flights over Iraq since Parliament's vote.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon told LBC Radio: "You should see this now as a pattern - the RAFs flying overhead... in support of [Iraqi army and Kurdish] ground forces." He said "no responsible government" could ignore the challenge presented by IS.
It is the second time UK forces have directly engaged IS since Parliament authorised involvement in the international military campaign last week. "We didn't choose this fight, but for the security of our nation, we must respond," he said.
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told the conference that the "twisted ideology" of IS "can and must be driven out of Iraq".
"It is right that Britain shoulders its share of the burden in the great coalition of nations that has come together to defeat the menace of Isil, and we should be proud that we are doing so," he said.
He said the UK's strategy in the region was "comprehensive", including humanitarian aid, arming Kurdish fighters and cutting off IS funding.
About 40 nations have joined a coalition to tackle the militant group, which has seized large parts of Iraq and Syria in the past few months.
UK forces have now directly engaged IS twice since Parliament authorised involvement in the international military campaign last week.
On Tuesday, the MoD said Tornados had been on an "armed reconnaissance mission" when they were asked to help Kurdish troops in north-west Iraq.On Tuesday, the MoD said Tornados had been on an "armed reconnaissance mission" when they were asked to help Kurdish troops in north-west Iraq.
The jets identified an IS heavy weapon position, which the MoD said was firing on Kurdish forces.The jets identified an IS heavy weapon position, which the MoD said was firing on Kurdish forces.
A guided bomb was used to attack the position, while a missile targeted an armed pick-up truck in the same area, it said.A guided bomb was used to attack the position, while a missile targeted an armed pick-up truck in the same area, it said.
Appeal for mercyAppeal for mercy
There were also reports of heavy fighting on Tuesday across a key border crossing between Iraq and Syria involving Kurdish forces and IS militants.There were also reports of heavy fighting on Tuesday across a key border crossing between Iraq and Syria involving Kurdish forces and IS militants.
IS, which has established a self-declared "caliphate" in the territory it controls, is holding a number of hostages. IS, which has established a self-declared "caliphate" in the territory it controls, is also holding a number of hostages.
Last month, in a video showing the beheading of British hostage David Haines the militants said the next to be killed may be Alan Henning - a taxi driver from Eccles who had been delivering aid to Syria when he was captured last year.Last month, in a video showing the beheading of British hostage David Haines the militants said the next to be killed may be Alan Henning - a taxi driver from Eccles who had been delivering aid to Syria when he was captured last year.
Mr Henning's wife, Barbara, has again appealed to IS leaders to show mercy.Mr Henning's wife, Barbara, has again appealed to IS leaders to show mercy.