ALWAGHT- The French Defense Ministry reports that Rafale fighter jets and US-made Reaper drones dropped seven bombs on two ISIS military targets in central Syria.
French aircraft have carried out airstrikes on Islamic State (IS) positions in Syria, marking the first such strike since Bashar al-Assad's regime fell. Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu confirmed the operation on Tuesday, reaffirming France’s ongoing commitment to combating terrorism in the Levant.
In a post on X during his New Year visit to French UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, Lecornu stated, "Our armed forces remain engaged in battling terrorism in the Levant." He added that on Sunday, French air assets targeted IS in Syria, using the Arabic term "Daesh." According to the French Defense Ministry, Rafale fighter jets and US-made Reaper drones dropped seven bombs on two IS military targets in central Syria.
France has been part of the international Inherent Resolve coalition against ISIS since 2014 in Iraq and 2015 in Syria, with French troops stationed in the region, including in the UAE. As Syria undergoes significant changes following the fall of Assad, there are growing concerns that ISIS could take advantage of the shifting dynamics to regain strength. Despite the collapse of its so-called caliphate between 2014 and 2019, the group continues to operate in both Iraq and Syria.
In December, the United States announced an increase in its troop presence in Syria to around 2,000, with Centcom stating that the move aims to prevent ISIS from exploiting the evolving situation in central Syria. The US also has approximately 2,500 troops deployed in Iraq.
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