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9:50 a.m. Britain's defense secretary says British Tornados struck at oil fields that help finance the activities of the Islamic State group — the first strikes to follow after a vote in Parliament authorizing military action in Syria.
Defense Secretary Michael Fallon told the BBC that the Omar fields in eastern Syria were targeted to strike "a very real blow at the oil and the revenue" on which the Islamic State group depends. The strikes follow within hours of Parliament's vote to attack the group, also known as Isil, Isis and by its Arabic acronym, Daesh.
Fallon confirmed that eight more jets were on their way to Britain's base in Cyprus to join attacks and warned that military action against Islamic State should be expected to continue not for months, but years.
9:40 a.m.
Germany's defense minister is heading to Turkey as Berlin prepares to send reconnaissance jets and other help in the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria.
The Defense Ministry tells the dpa news agency that Ursula von der Leyen plans to meet with her Turkish counterpart Thursday afternoon in Ankara.
The government plans to send up to six Tornado reconnaissance planes, tanker aircraft and a frigate to help protect the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the eastern Mediterranean, but won't actively engage in combat. It's also planning to commit up to 1,200 soldiers to support the international coalition fighting the Islamic State group.
Two Tornados and a tanker could be sent to Turkey's Incirlik air base next week if Parliament approves the mission Friday as expected.
8:40 a.m.
France's government is welcoming the first British airstrikes in Syria, saying they are a sign of the European solidarity promised after the Nov. 13 attacks that terrorized Paris.
In a statement Thursday, the president said the British vote to begin airstrikes in Syria — and an upcoming German vote Friday to take part in the operation — were a sign that Europeans would stand together after the Islamic State attacks that killed 130 people in Paris.