PM: UK Airstrikes will help bring political deal in Syria

America and its allies conducted 15 air strikes in Iraq and seven in Syria against Islamic State on Saturday, the coalition leading the operations said. The Combined Joint Task Force six strikes in Ramadi hit multiple Islamic State targets.

Iraqi forces are attempting to retake the city from the militants.

In a statement, the coalition confirmed other air strikes in Iraq hit near Mosul, Fallujah, Sinjar, Tal Afar, Sultan Abdallah, Rawah and Qayyarah.

In Syria, the air strikes hit near five cities including the militant stronghold of Raqqa, the Combined Joint Task Force said in a statement.

A large group of militants from the so-called Islamic State have been killed in Syria by a series of airstrikes in Raqqa province.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that at least 32 IS jihadists were killed and over 40 wounded when aircraft from the US-led coalition hit positions near Raqqa city, the de facto capital city of the self-styled Caliphate.

• British jets carry out second wave of Syrian airstrikes

RAF fighter jets targeted another Syrian oil field last night during their second combat sortie from the British base in Cyprus, the Ministry of Defence has said.

Typhoons and unmanned Reapers were used for the first time last night, alongside the RAF's Tornado jets in an effort to cut off the financial supply to the so-called Islamic State (IS).

Barack Obama spoke with David Cameron by phone to discuss the fight against so-called Islamic State in Syria on Friday.

The US President welcomed the outcome of Wednesday's vote in the House of Commons authorising the RAF to carry out airstrikes against the terror group, a White House spokesman said.

President Obama "expressed his appreciation" that British air forces had joined the coalition in Syria.

"The leaders discussed further steps that can be taken to degrade and destroy ISIL, and reiterated that all countries are welcome to join the existing coalition, if their political and military objectives in Syria are consistent with those of the Coalition," the White House spokesman said.

"They also discussed ways to further bolster our already robust counterterrorism cooperation, and the President, on behalf of the American people, accepted the Prime Minister's condolences for the loss of life in the San Bernardino shootings this week."

The first British Typhoon jets have been deployed from RAF Akrotiri as part of the campaign to defeat so-called Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

Two Typhoons and two Tornado jets have taken off from the British military base in Cyprus to take part in the combat mission following the deployment of jets to the base after Wednesday's Commons vote approved airstrikes against IS in Syria.

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it is assessing a number of reports of threats made online to MPs following the Syria vote.