Tories urge caution in campaign against IS

Defeating Islamic State (IS) will require patience and persistence, British prime minister David Cameron warned last night as RAF warplanes mounted their first strikes against the extremists in Syria.

Defence secretary Michael Fallon insisted the UK would only use air strikes after former foreign secretary William Hague said military action should not rule out the use of “small specialist ground forces in the future from western nations if that helps tip the balance on the ground”.

The air bombardment was hailed by France as a response to the call for “European solidarity” issued by President Francois Hollande in the aftermath of last month’s Paris terror attacks. Mr Hollande’s call was echoed by Russian president Vladimir Putin, who said opponents of IS must come together “in one strong fist”.