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France strikes IS in Syria from newly-deployed carrier

The tweet said two targets had been destroyed, without elaborating.

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French airstrikes against the Islamic State militant group were launched from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier on Monday, according to the French military.

The group left its homeport in Toulon on Thursday as part of a previously scheduled deployment as part of the French mission against ISIS – Opération Chammal – joining French strike fighters operating from land bases in Jordan and United Arab Emirates.

The Charles de Gaulle carrier has 38 military aircraft, which essentially triples the number of French planes in the region.

On November 18, the Charles de Gaulle carrier was deployed to the eastern Mediterranean Sea off the Syrian coastline and closer to Daesh targets, including command and recruitment centers as well as oil facilities.

The operations came just 10 days after deadly attacks in Paris, for which ISIS claimed responsibility, that killed 130 people and wounded scores more. However, he added “there will be no victory … in the short term”.

After its operation in the Mediterranean, the Charles de Gaulle will head to the Gulf to relieve a USA carrier.

“We will intensify our strikes, choosing targets that will do the most damage possible to this army of terrorists”, said French President François Hollande earlier in Paris, via Agence France-Presse. He said any country “who wants to participate militarily is welcome”. “Simultaneously four Rafale Marines from the aircraft carrier joined them over Syria”.

Meanwhile, Russian Air Force pilots dropping bombs on ISIS fighters in Syria wrote messages on their bombs, with “For Paris” and “For our people”.

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The Russian news wire TASS reported that Russian military forces in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea made contact with the French naval group and would coordinate their efforts.

France launches anti-IS strikes from carrier