British RAF aircraft carried out four missions against the Islamic State group in Syria on Sunday, January 10, using Brimstone missiles for the first time, BBC News reports.

The Brimstone strikes targeted a vehicle near Raqqa - a stronghold of IS - as well as the Omar oilfield in the east of Syria, said Downing Street.

Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said the UK was "playing a key role" in the fight against IS, also known as Daesh. Brimstone missiles are viewed as more accurate than their rivals.

Sold as the "most accurate precision strike product on the market", they are radar-guided and able to be used against targets moving at up to 70mph.

The UK and Saudi Arabia are the only two countries to have purchased Brimstones, and while laying out his case for British action against IS in Syria, David Cameron argued that their use would make a "meaningful difference" to the battle. MPs voted in favour of extending UK action into Syria on 2 December, but strikes have so far been few in number.

RAF activity has instead been focused on Iraq - most recently in the battle for Ramadi - but it appears there has now been a surge of activity over Syria, said BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale.