France Announces First Air Strikes on ISIL in Syria
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – France announced its first air strikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group in Syria on Sunday, following its decision to expand its bombing campaign against the terrorists from neighboring Iraq.
"Our country thus confirms its resolute commitment to fight against the terrorist threat represented by Daesh (ISIL). We will strike each time that our national security is at stake," the French Presidency said in a statement.
The president's office said the strikes hit targets identified during reconnaissance missions conducted over the past fortnight, AFP reported.
The operation to "fight the terrorist threat" of ISIL was coordinated with regional partners, a brief statement said.
France, which has so far only taken part in strikes in Iraq, began reconnaissance flights over Syria earlier this month in order to gather information on ISIL positions.
Opposition conservative lawmakers argued in France’s Parliament earlier in the month against joining the air strikes, saying it would not make a sufficient difference on the ground.
The United States, Canada, Turkey, Australia and the Persian Gulf Arab States have already been taking part in strikes on ISIL militant positions in Syria.
