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UK carries out second airstrike against Islamic State oilfields

The government had previously hailed the accuracy of its precision Brimstone missiles and bombs and claimed there had not been a single reported civilian casualty from 15 months of airstrikes in Iraq.

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As he announced an increase in missions with the RAF moving to round-the-clock bombing, Fallon also warned the public to be prepared for “setbacks” in a campaign that could last for years.

While visiting RAF Akrotiri on 5 December, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said that the strikes were a “pretty impressive achievement”.

Bombing began hours after MPs gave their backing for military action.

Fallon told military personnel in Cyprus: “We are going to use force against them in the headquarters, their command and control, their logistics, but also in the infrastructure that supports them”.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) said that two Tornado jets, and for the first time, two Typhoons carried out eight attacks on a large oilfield in Omar, eastern Syria.

“We face a new kind of enemy that makes no demands, takes no hostages, doesn’t want to negotiate”, he said.

Mr Fallon said the “full force of the RAF” was now being used to “deal with this death cult”.

Fallon added: “Nobody likes strikes, nobody likes warfare, but when you’re dealing with people who are not negotiating with you but simply want to kill as many westerners or Brits as possible, then you have to use force”.

Coalition aircraft carried out two strikes against an oil field well head near Abu Kamal, Syria, and six strikes against an oil and gas separation plant near Dayr az Zawr, Syria, the statement by the coalition said.

One was to Iraq in case of a no, the other was to Syria.

The UK Ministry of Defence said Tornado GR4s were involved in fighting against ISIS militants near the city of Ramadi on Friday.

Oil fields are being targeted as they represent a significant source of revenue for IS, also known as Isis and Daesh.

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Meanwhile, the French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, suggested on Saturday that removing Bashar al-Assad as president of Syria may no longer necessary ahead of a successful political transition in the country.

RAF Tornado GR4's fly over RAF Akrotiri in Cypru