The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed that bombing raids over Syria have begun.
The air strikes – targeted at Islamic State militants from neighbouring Iraq – were approved by the House of Commons late on Wednesday night and were launched from the Akrotiri base in Cyprus.
Officials refused to confirm the targets of the mission, saying only that the planes had returned from the “first offensive operation over Syria and have conducted strikes.”
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond echoed Prime Minister David Cameron by saying Britain was “safer” following the decision to back air strikes.
“We are very pleased that a significant number of Labour MPs have voted with the Government tonight so we have got a clear majority across the Commons in support of the action that we are now going to be taking to degrade this evil terrorist organisation,” he told Sky News.
“Britain is safer tonight because of the decision that the House of Commons has taken.”
This speech by Labour politician Hilary Benn, meanwhile, has been described as ‘verbal shock and awe‘ by The Guardian and needs to be watched.
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