Today France has launched first airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria 12709154

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Defence & Security News - France
 
Today France has launched first airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria.
Sunday, September 29, 2015, France has carried out its first airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria. 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 Islamic State positions.
     
Sunday, September 29, 2015, France has carried out its first airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria. 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 Islamic State positions. French fighter aircraft are also involved in airstrikes against Islamic State fighters in Iraq.
     
Announcing the airstrikes, Hollande's office said in a statement Sunday: "Our country thus confirms its resolute commitment to fight against the terrorist threat represented by Daesh (the Arabic acronym for ISIL). We will strike each time that our national security is at stake."

The office of President Francois Hollande said the strikes were aimed at targets identified during surveillance missions conducted since September 8, 2015.

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.