French jets strike ISIS command center in Iraq
It took place as French President Francois Hollande visited Washington for talks with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama
French warplanes “destroyed” an Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group command center and a training camp near the key northern Iraqi city of Mosul, the defense ministry said Tuesday.
“The target was hit” in the nearby city of Tal Afar, a French official said.
It took place as French President Francois Hollande visited Washington for talks with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama.
Eleven days after the deadly attacks that killed 130 people in Paris, Obama and Hollande announced they would intensify their air raids against ISIS, and urged Russia to focus its military efforts against the group.
The aerial assault, which took place around 1830 GMT, was conducted jointly with the U.S. Air Force and last about five hours, the French defense ministry said in a statement.
The Rafale jets took off from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. It has been deployed since Monday in anti-ISIS operations.
On Monday, aircraft that took off from the carrier provided aerial support to Iraqi troops battling ISIS in Ramadi and Mosul.
Late Monday, they also hit the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa in northern Syria, targeting a command center, a vehicle storage area and maintenance facilities.
-
French jets pound ISIS stronghold in Syria
The first target destroyed was reportedly an ISIS command center, the French defense ministry said Middle East -
France uses its newly-deployed carrier, Russia, U.S. strike ISIS
French fighter jets finally took off Monday from the Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier, newly deployed to the eastern Mediterranean Middle East -
Can Egypt’s new French jets boost its Sinai fight?
Egyptian pilots flew three French Rafale fighter jets this week to boost its defenses against Islamist militants Analysis -
French Rafale fighter jet sale to Egypt ‘imminent’: source
"'It's imminent. For me the signature is certain,' a French source told Reuters Aviation & Transport -
Three French mirage jet fighters deployed in Jordan
France already has nine Rafale warplanes in the United Arab Emirates Middle East -
Six French fighter jets added to ISIS fight
A government source told AFP the number, as of Monday, was estimated at 49 Middle East -
French jets bomb ISIS depot in Iraq
Hollande’s office said other operations will continue in the coming days Middle East -
French jets begin spy flights over Iraq
Meanwhile, Iraqi President Fuad Masum Monday urged rapid air strikes against ISIS Middle East