Le Monde: French Air Force Regards Attacks on ISIS in Syria

Le Monde: French Air Force Regards Attacks on ISIS in Syria
Sun Sep 6, 2015 11:40:20

France is considering conducting airstrikes on ISIS in Syria, joining an international coalition led by the United States, Le Monde said on its website Saturday, quoting an unnamed "high level source."

Government officials declined to comment on the report, saying President Francois Hollande would express his views on the matter at a news conference Monday, Reuters reported citing the French newspaper.

France was the first country to join the US-led coalition carrying out air strikes on ISIS in Iraq, but had ruled out doing so in Syria, fearing that would benefit President Bashar Assad. It has supplied arms to what it considers "moderate rebels" fighting the Assad government.

But Europe's refugee crisis, largely caused by vast numbers of people fleeing the civil war in Syria, the failure to push back ISIS and a rising presence of Russia in the region may prompt a change in policy, Le Monde reported, saying Hollande discussed the issue with his defense team at a meeting Friday; Tasnim reported.

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