France Launches New Air Raids over Syria: Defense Ministry
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – France has launched a new series of raids against ISIL strongholds in Syria, the country's defense ministry announced on Tuesday.
French warplanes carried out fresh raids overnight against the ISIL stronghold of Raqa in northern Syria, destroying a command center and training center, the defense ministry said Tuesday.
"For the second time in 24 hours the French military conducted an air raid against Daesh in Raqa in Syria," it said in a statement, using another name for the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
President Francois Hollande has vowed to hit back at ISIL "without mercy" after Friday's attacks in Paris, the bloodiest on its territory.
Ten Rafale and Mirage 2000 fighters carried out the raid at 0030 GMT, dropping 16 bombs, the defense ministry said, AFP reported.
"Both targets were hit and destroyed simultaneously," it said.
"Conducted in coordination with US forces, the raid was aimed at sites identified during reconnaissance missions previously carried out by France."
France has carried out air raids against ISIL in Syria since September but stepped up its raids after Friday's attacks, with 10 warplanes dropping 20 bombs on ISIL targets in Raqa on Sunday.
The United States and France have also decided to increase their exchange of intelligence on potential targets.
France is set to further intensify its operations against the extremists in Syria through the information acquired and upcoming deployment of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which will triple its capacity to strike.
