France says jets strike ISIS targets to break Kirkuk frontline

France's defense ministry said on Wednesday that two Rafale jets had struck Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) targets
alongside coalition planes near the northern Iraqi oil city of Kirkuk in an effort to breach the group's frontlines.

Two Dassault-built Rafale fighters, both armed with four missiles, targeted trenches used by ISIS to
besiege the city at around 0330 GMT, the ministry said in a statement.

"This action was carried out simultaneously with our allies to create a breach in the defensive positions held by the
terrorists on the frontline between Iraqi forces and ISIS," the ministry said.

French government spokesman Stephane Le Foll earlier on Wednesday told BFM TV that France would soon increase its
deployment in the region to tackle ISIS.

Officials have told Reuters that Paris is set to send Mirage fighter jets to Jordan to increase the number of missions
against ISIS.

France currently has nine fighter jets, a maritime patrol aircraft, an AWACS reconnaissance aircraft and a refueling
plane at its base in the United Arab Emirates as part of its "Chammal" Iraq mission, as well as a warship in the Gulf.