Britain carries out first ISIS airstrikes in Syria, hours after Parliament approval

RAF Tornado prepares to conduct first British bombing of ISIS inside Syria

(Image credit: Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

published 3 December 2015

About an hour after Britain's Parliament approved airstrikes on the Islamic State inside Syria on Wednesday night, two Royal Air Force Tornado fighter jets took off from a British air base in Cyprus, followed by two others. Each jet was carrying three 500-pound Paveway bombs, BBC News reports, and the Ministry of Defense confirmed that the jets had conducted Britain's "first offensive operation in Syria," with more details to come later on Thursday. Britain joins the U.S., Russia, France, and several other countries attacking ISIS from the air in Syria.

British Prime Minister David Cameron had asked Parliament to approve the strikes, expanding Britain's air campaign against ISIS from Iraq, and the House of Commons approved the request by a wider-than-expected 397-223 vote, with 66 Labour MPs voting in favor after a vigorous 10-hour debate.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.

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