Iraq air strikes: RAF Tornados fire four missiles at Isis vehicles in overnight attack

Strikes targeted armed pick-up truck escort and an Isis transport vehicle

A Tornado GR4 alongside a Voyager refuelling aircraft during the RAF’s first combat mission against Isis in northern Iraq (PA)

Two RAF Tornados have conducted more air strikes overnight against Isis targets in Iraq, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.

The MoD said RAF Tornados fired four Brimstone missiles against an armed pick-up truck escort and an Isis transport vehicle.

A spokesperson for the MoD said: "Following yesterday’s strikes on the Isis terrorist organisation, Royal Air Force aircraft have seen further action overnight. Two Tornado GR4s from RAF Akrotiri, conducted an armed reconnaissance mission in support of Iraqi government forces west of Baghdad.

"They were tasked to examine a location suspected of being used as an Isis command and control position.

"At the scene they were able to identify Isis activity and two vehicles, one of which was an armed pick up truck. Four Brimstone missiles were used to conduct a precision attack on the vehicles. Initial analysis indicates that the strikes were successful."

It is the second time UK forces have directly engaged Isis since Parliament voted to join the international military campaign against the Islamist militants last week.

Previous flights had returned to the Cyprus base without conducting any strikes. The MoD said the flights collected valuable information about the insurgents.

Isis (also known as known as Islamic State) has advanced across swathes of Iraq and Syria in recent months, declaring a 'caliphate' across its strongholds.

Commons vote