France Continues Airstrikes In Iraq

France Continues Airstrikes In Iraq

French armed forces continued NATO approved airstrikes on ISIL’s positions in northern Iraq this Wednesday even after the brutal execution of French citizen Herve Gourdel by the terrorist organization.

French President Francois Hollande announced renewed vigilance and determination in France and NATO’s fight with jihadi extremists. He also added that flags across France will be hung at half-mast to mourn the loss of the 55 year old Gourdel. According to Stephane Le Foll, a government spokesman President Hollande said that France needs unity in these trying times. Le Foll also announced a new series of air strikes that have been carried out Thursday morning, the second French attack on ISIL in the space of a single week.

While France was a hesitant NATO member when it came to the U.S. led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the European country was one of the first members to agree to an active role in the fight against the Islamic State terrorist organization.

The French army currently has just under 1,000 soldiers and 6 Rafale fighter jets stationed in the United Arab Emirates. President Hollande and Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said that the French state’s strategy for Iraq and Syria will be reviewed but he also ensured that while air support for local ground troops will continue no French ground troops will be deployed nor will the airstrikes expand to Syria as the United States have done.

Posted by James Fried on Friday September 26 2014, 4:41 AM EDT. Ref: dnaindia. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, World. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0