RAF Tornados Hit IS With Fresh Airstrikes

British jets have hit more Islamic State targets in Iraq as calls grow for strikes against the group's Syrian strongholds.

A third round of aerial raids were carried out over northwest Iraq with RAF Tornado jets carrying out a "precision" strike on IS fighters who were fighting Kurdish troops.

The airstrike used Paveway IV guided bombs and initial reports indicated the attack was successful, said the Ministry of Defence.

Earlier, a second round of raids took place overnight west of Baghdad as Tornados worked to support Iraqi forces below.

The Tornado crews identified a suspected IS command and control position and fired four Brimstone missiles at two vehicles - one of which was an armed pick-up truck.

The Tornados landed safely at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus before dawn.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "Initial analysis indicates that the strikes were successful."

RAF fighter jets took out a heavy weapon position and another armed truck on Tuesday - the first airstrikes of the UK military campaign.

The MoD released footage of the raids in support of Kurdish troops who were being attacked by IS insurgents in the northwest of the country.

The Brimstone missiles are often used to hit moving targets such as vehicles and cost around £105,000 each.

Five Brimstones have now been deployed so far, along with several Paveway bombs, which costs around £22,000.

Unlike the first strikes, the MoD said images of the latest attack would not immediately be released.

Security has been stepped up across Cyprus now British airstrikes have begun from RAF Akrotiri and security teams have been making checks outside the base itself.

The UK is supporting Iraqi and Kurdish forces battling Sunni Muslim extremists from IS, also known as ISIL and ISIS, which has taken over large parts of Iraq in recent months.

Despite IS also seizing territory in Syria, a vote in Parliament last Friday did not include the authorisation of airstrikes over the country.

But speaking at a fringe meeting at the Conservative conference in Birmingham, Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said Cabinet ministers believe strikes against Syrian targets will also be necessary.

"I believe ultimately that is exactly what we will have to do ... The Prime Minister believes that. He said as much in his speech," he said.