“The camp was totally destroyed”, Mr Hollande said after arriving at the United Nations for a major development summit and the UN General Assembly. One of those attackers claimed allegiance to Islamic State.
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President Vladimir Putin is set to unveil a plan to resolve the conflict on Monday after boosting Russia’s military presence in Syria and taking a leading role in pushing for a political solution.
Meanwhile, according to the Washington-based Defence News, U.S arms sales to Iraq past year also included 681 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and 40 truck-mounted launchers, Sentinel radars, three Hawk anti-aircraft batteries with 216 Hawk missiles, 50 Stryker infantry carriers, 12 helicopters, and hundreds of millions of dollars worth of maintenance and logistical support for thousands of U.S.-made military vehicles.
Lebanon has been without a head of state since the tenure of former President Michel Sleiman ended in May 2014.
Previously, France had only participated in anti-ISIS airstrikes in Iraq and resisted launching them in Syria out of fears they could bolster Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The diplomat whose name was not revealed said Hollande made the remarks during a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani in New York on Sunday.
France’s escalation comes as the U.S.is seeking to engage in fresh diplomatic action, in coordination with Russian Federation, to ease Mr. Assad from power and pave the way for succession.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, however, told ARD television on Sunday that the formation of a transitional Syrian government should be kept separate from discussions on the future of Assad.
“Iran is a player [in the region], but also a facilitator”, the unnamed French official said.
“We are just at the beginning of trying to understand what the Russians’ intentions are in Syria, in Iraq, and to try to see if there are mutually beneficial ways forward here”.
He said such camps no longer existed.
France says it has launched its first air strikes against ISIL militants in Syria, expanding its bombing campaign from neighbouring Iraq against the group. But for France in Syria, it will only be a few symbolic strikes.
“We are striking Daesh as this 15 may organization ready its flareups against France from Syria”.
In addition, Paris has become alarmed by Islamic State gains in northern Syria and the possibility of France being sidelined in negotiations to reach a political solution in Syria. The targets were identified in earlier French reconnaissance flights and with information provided by the coalition.
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The strikes make good on a promise to go after the group that the president has said is planning attacks against several countries, including France.
