Britain has said the fight against the Taliban and Osama bin Laden has only just begun and its forces were ready for the "long haul".
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British Chief of Defence Admiral Sir Michael Boyce
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"We are committed to the long haul. Last night was not just a single strike," Chief of Defence Admiral Sir Michael Boyce told a press briefing.
He said the attacks were designed to "damage, disrupt and destroy" al-Quaeda terrorist training camps and Taliban military facilities including airfields, garrisons and air defence installations.
There were 30 targets - 23 of which were in "very remote" areas - according to Adml Boyce.
He said military action is only part of the wider response to the terrorist attacks, adding: "The Taliban regime had every chance to avoid what happened last night".
British Defence Secretary Mr Geoff Hoon said British forces took enormous care over target selection to avoid civilian casualties: "We have no quarrel with people of Afghanistan. . . . we have no quarrel with Islam".
Earlier Britain’s Foreign Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, said military action against Afghanistan looked set to last for weeks.
"We're certainly not talking days - unless something absolutely dramatic happens," he said.
PA