RAF air strikes in Syria to cost UK taxpayers £2MILLION-A-DAY

British warplanes were in the sky within hours of a vote by MPs in the Commons to back the bombing of Islamic State – also known as Daesh.

Four RAF Tornado jets took off from the Akrotiri base in Cyprus to target a oil fields in eastern Syria.

On top of this two more Tornados and six Typhoon fighters were dispatched from bases in the UK ready to launch air strikes in the area.

But the pummelling of evil ISIS comes at a HUGE cost to the UK's hard-pressed taxpayers.

If all the 12 jets that are currently deployed carry up to five of these all-weather bombs each, daily raids would total almost £2million – which is nearly £15m each week and £60m by the New Year.

The MoD says the four highly advanced 1,000 mph Tornado GR4, one of the RAF's greatest assets, costs an eye-watering £35,000 per flight hour in fuel.

And the four Tornados, which conducted strikes with laser-guided Paveway IV bombs, have cost around £100,000 already.

Even more expensive are the rocket-propelled Brimstone missiles.

They are estimated to cost £100,000 each, which the David Cameron boasts are so accurate that they will be a game-changer in the war on ISIS.

With at least 10 jets dropping Brimstones this morning – plus Paveway attacks and expensive plane fuel, the current total stands close to £1million for the day.

The jets took off just an hour after MPs voted in favour of launching airstrikes against the savage terror group.

Military action was authorised by 397 votes to 223 – a majority of 174 – after a heated debate in the House of Commons.

Britain will be joining a coalition of allies – including the US and France – intent on destroying the sick death cult.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme indicated that military action can be expected to continue for years, rather than months.

He told BBC1's Breakfast: "This is not going to be quick."

Mr Fallon later confirmed oil fields were destroyed in eastern Syria – the Omar oil fields – from which the Daesh terrorists receive a huge part of their revenue.

He added: "This strikes a very real blow at the oil and the revenue on which the Daesh terrorists depend."

(dailystar.co.uk)