French jets have been flying reconnaissance missions over Syria to identify targets
France has carried out its first air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria.
The
president's office said that French planes struck targets identified
during reconnaissance missions conducted over the past fortnight.
France co-ordinated with regional partners for the operation, a brief statement said.
French jets have previously carried out air strikes against IS targets in neighbouring Iraq.
"Our
country thus confirms its resolute commitment to fight against the
terrorist threat represented by Daesh," the French Presidency said,
referring to the militant group by another of its acronyms.
"We will strike each time that our national security is at stake," the statement added.
President
Francois Hollande announced earlier this month that he was preparing to
send jets to Syria, beginning with a period of reconnaissance to
identify targets. He said at the time that terror attacks had been
planned against France from Syria.
A US-led coalition has been carrying out airstrikes against IS in Syria and Iraq for more than a year.
France, like the UK, has previously confined its air strikes against the Islamic State group to Iraqi airspace.
The
UK announced earlier this month it had carried out a drone strike
against two British citizens in Syria but has yet to fly manned
operations in Syrian airspace.
More than 200,000 people have been
killed in Syria's civil war since 2011. Approximately four million have
fled abroad, with many attempting to enter the EU.
France's announcement comes as UK Prime Minister David Cameron is
expected to drop his demand that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad be removed from power to secure peace in the country.
Mr
Cameron is expected to make the concession at the United Nations
meeting in New York this week in order to secure support in the fight
against IS from Russia, an ally of Mr Assad.
Title : France launches Syria anti-IS strikes
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