Britain is doubling its strike force in Cyprus to reinforce its efforts on the bombing campaign against IS terrorists in Syria.
Today, two more Tornado jets and six Typhoons took off from their bases in the UK heading for RAF Akrotiri air base in Cyprus - where the force attacking IS is based.
"We are doubling our strike force," Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said. "These are the aircraft that the coalition have been asking for."
British Tornados based in Cyprus carried out their first air strikes against Islamic State - also referred to as Isil, Isis or Daesh - in Syria.
MPs voted by 397 to 223 in favour of military action to target IS in the war-torn country.
Mr Fallon said the vote meant that Britain could finally play a full part in the US-led coalition attacking IS.
"What was really important about the vote last night was that it confirmed that Britain is a serious ally," he said.
"We have come to the aid of France, who requested us to help with our RAF planes, we have responded to the call from the United Nations on all members of the United Nations to do something to suppress this terrorism and eradicate the safe haven that Daesh has.
Speaking about last night’s air strikes he said: "All four Tornados have now successfully returned and we will be assessing later this morning the actual damage done."
The air strikes were carried out within hours of a vote by MPs in the House of Commons to back extending operations against so-called Islamic State militants.
Four RAF Tornado jets, which carry a range of munitions including Paveway IV guided bombs and precision-guided Brimstone missiles, took off from the Akrotiri base in Cyprus.
A ministry of defence spokesman said the sorties had returned from the "first offensive operation over Syria and have conducted strikes".
Prime Minister David Cameron has said MPs took the "right decision to keep the UK safe" after they overwhelmingly backed air strikes.
MPs voted by 397 to 223 last night in favour of extending British action - a majority of 174.
Shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn was lauded by MPs from across the house for making a powerful speech warning his party that "we never have and we never should walk by on the other side of the road".
He was among 66 Labour MPs who voted with the government while seven Conservatives opposed the plans for military action.
Mr Cameron said: "I believe the house has taken the right decision to keep the UK safe - military action in Syria as one part of a broader strategy."
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said 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 said.
"Britain is safer tonight because of the decision that the House of Commons has taken."
Deep divisions
The vote has blown open deep divisions in the Labour Party with claims that MPs in favour of military action have faced threats of recriminations.
Leader Jeremy Corbyn's protests that the Government had failed to set out a convincing case did little to persuade a significant number of his parliamentary party, with 11 members of the shadow cabinet, including shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn, deputy leader Tom Watson, shadow education secretary Lucy Powell, shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander and shadow Commons leader Chris Bryant, choosing to support Mr Cameron.
Pacifist Mr Corbyn was forced to offer his MPs a free vote and allowed Mr Benn to wrap up the debate arguing in favour of air strikes, in a messy compromise to stop the party from falling apart.
In astonishing scenes, the shadow foreign secretary gave an impassioned speech directly challenging his party leader, who sat beside him watching while MPs from across the House broke out into cheers of support.
Mr Benn told MPs Britain was under threat from fascists that held the country in contempt.
He added: "I say the threat is now and there are rarely, if ever, perfect circumstances in which to deploy military forces."
'Medieval monsters'
Mr Cameron opened more than ten hours of debate in the Commons by warning that the "women-raping, Muslim-murdering, medieval monsters" of IS were "plotting to kill us and to radicalise our children right now".
Critics of the military intervention have disputed claims that 70,000 moderate fighters in Syria would be able to take on IS.
Tory chairman of the defence select committee Julian Lewis warned that "instead of having dodgy dossiers, we now have bogus battalions of moderate fighters".
US president Barack Obama welcomed the vote, describing IS as "a global threat that must be defeated by a global response".
The US-based SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist threats, said "Islamic State (IS) supporters on Twitter erupted in threats toward the UK and other Western countries" following the vote.
