RAF Tornado jets have carried out their first air strikes against the self-styled Islamic State in Syria, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

Four Tornados from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus took part in the operation soon after MPs voted to approve bombing.

The "successful" strikes hit the IS-controlled Omar oil fields in eastern Syria, the defence secretary said.

But PM David Cameron said the campaign would take time, saying "we're going to need to be patient and persistent".

"It is complex and it is difficult what we are asking our pilots to do, and our thoughts should be with them and their families as they commence this important work," Mr Cameron said.

MPs overwhelmingly backed UK military action against IS - also known as Daesh - in Syria, by 397 votes to 223, after a 10-hour Commons debate on Wednesday.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the MoD would be assessing the damage done by the bombing later, but the aim was to strike "a very real blow on the oil and revenue on which Daesh depends".

He had personally approved the targets ahead of the Commons vote, he said.

Before the attacks, pilots used the aircrafts' sensors to confirm "no civilians were in the proximity of the targets", it stated.

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said, external the Omar oilfield - a target of the UK airstrikes - was one of eight oilfields targeted by coalition forces.

The RAF has been carrying out operations against IS in Iraq since last year.

To date, the US has conducted nearly all of the air strikes in Syria and Iraq, with France, Australia and Denmark also taking part.

Mr Cameron said he was glad there had been "strong support" from Parliament for the UK to extend its strikes to Syria, and said he believed the move would also be supported by Muslim countries.

French foreign affairs minister Laurent Fabius welcomed UK military action, adding: "A fortnight after the 13 November [Paris] attacks, this is a concrete demonstration of solidarity with our country."

A total of 66 Labour MPs - 29% of the parliamentary party - sided with the government as it secured a larger than expected Commons majority.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had argued the case for war "does not stack up" - but senior Labour figures, including 11 members of his shadow cabinet, were among those who voted with the government after they were given a free vote.

Shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn, who was applauded by MPs for a speech in support of bombing, said: "All of our thoughts today are with the brave men and women of the Royal Air Force and we pray for their safe return."