France launches first airstrikes against ISIS
France has launched its first airstrikes in the fight against Islamic State in Iraq
According to Le Monde, on Friday 19 September two French air jets destroyed an Islamic State logistics depot in the north eastern region of Moddoul, Iraq.
The decision has made France the first country to take military action against Islamic State after a coalition pledging to destroy the militant group, led by American President Barrack Obama, was formed on Monday.
According to the French Government, the raid marks the first of many expected “in the coming days”. During a press conference held on Thursday US President Obama welcomed the decision by the French senate. The president said he saw France as a “solid partner” in the global fight against terrorism.
French president François Hollande affirmed on Thursday that French intervention will be limited to airstrikes and will not concern Syria, where the Islamic State controls a vast area of the north eastern territory. “There will not be any troops deployed on the ground, and we will only intervene in Iraq”, he declared during a press conference.
At a meeting of coalition partners held on Monday Barack Obama stated that he will not hesitate to extend the bombings to Syria. He has hinted that he does not rule out the deployment of American troops on Iraqi soil.