France Might Soon Begin Airstrikes On ISIS In Syria: Report

[jpak]

Source: International Business Times

The French government is mulling airstrikes against the Islamic State group in Syria, France’s Le Monde newspaper reported Saturday, citing a “high-level” source. France is already a part of the anti-ISIS coalition that has been bombing the militant group’s strongholds in northern Iraq since August last year.

According to the newspaper, French President Francois Holland discussed the issue during a board of defense meeting Friday and would express his views on the matter at a news conference Monday.

“Do we have the ability to strike effectively? Undoubtedly. Are we able to hit without collateral damage? That is more difficult,” the source, whose name was not revealed, told Le Monde in French. However, he added that reconnaissance flights would be given priority over airstrikes in Syria.

France, which was one of the first nations to join the United States-led coalition formed last year to target ISIS in Iraq, has so far refrained from intervening in Syria over fears that such a move might inadvertently help Syrian President Bashar Assad tighten his grip over the country’s government.

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Read more: http://www.ibtimes.com/france-might-soon-begin-airstrikes-isis-syria-report-2084483

[asiliveandbreathe]

2. According to the LA Times tory here on DU

Perhaps France might want to take a look at all that Russian buildup - according to officials not named - and all information is, maybe, apparently, not conclusive....

The Russian story - did that come from Hillary's private server???

[trueblue2007]

4. no it didn't, the story came from Bernie's staffers

[asiliveandbreathe]

5. I perhaps should have added "SNARK"

[CTyankee]

6. IIRC, France colonized Syria and it is probably still spoken there as a second language...

I know the West AFrican nations that were former French colonies still use French. I tutored people from some of those nations in those former colonies and they spoke beautiful French. And that was just a few years ago and my students were young adults (I was a LIteracy Volunteer for many years).

So, IMO, they kinda caused the problem in the first place. We see the effects of European colonialism in so much of the problems in those regions all the time.

[Bohemianwriter]

7. The Franks are at it again...

As if they didn't get their blood thirst quenched the first time in 1099 when slaughtering 30 000 Jews and Muslims in one day.

Their crime?

They were not Christians and therefore defied the biblical version of the sky god.

France has no more business in the Middle East than USA has.

[PersonNumber503602]

8. Fair enough. What's your opinion on Russia's current involvement?

Technically they are all fighting kind of on the same side.

[Bohemianwriter]

10. Everyone should just butt out...

The one tiny difference is that Russia is in the neighborhood.

Western or Russian forces won't help one bit. Let them fight it out. However, USA CAN pay for the whole god damn thing, since USA was the country that sparked the whole thing in 2003. Take it out of the Wall Street bonuses and the oil companies.

Stop squabbling on who belongs to what sect and country. ISIS is the enemy. "Al Qaeda" is just a dummy - a boogieman created by CIA and the Neocons and is not a real organization. Stop feeding the arms industry with endless wars around the world.
However, I find it scary that republicans want to make an alliance with "Al Qaeda" over Iran, who are actually fighting ISIS.
There are several strong alliances that should be able to take out ISIS on their own. The Kurds (Erdogan must stop lumping the Kurds in the same bag as ISIS or face diplomatic consequences), The Iranians, and even Taliban. Taliban is kicking ISIS' arses all over the place in Afghanistan. (That war was a big mistake to. Mistake? It was a crime!)
The more the West gets involved the more problems are being created. I hope history have taught us that.

The ONLY involvement the West and Russia should get involved is purely humanitarian. No guns. No bullets. Just humanitarian.
If they want military funding, let the Saudis pay for it. Besides, Saudi Arabia has one of the world's largest armies. Why have we never heard of them in action in Iraq? Or Afghanistan?
And why are USA a close ally to a country that makes Iran seem like a gay night in NYC in comparison?

However, it's not all happiness in iran either. Could have been. If history didn't take a twisted turn in 1953.

Just my two cents on the whole mess in Middle East

[pampango]

9. Russia already has or may soon join in the attacks on ISIS

Russia likely starts attacks in Syria - Czech defence minister

The Czech Defence Ministry is verifying the information that Russia has started military attacks in Syria, minister Martin Stropnicky (ANO) said after a meeting of the defence committee of the Chamber of Deputies today, adding that this is rather likely.

Russia´s alleged attacks on Islamic State in Syria have been reported by some foreign media in the past few days. "We want to verify this, it is quite an important piece of news. I spoke about it with some special units of ours this morning. They are verifying it. It is rather probable," Stropnicky said.

He said if the information were true, it would be a relatively significant step that could lead to a more effective solution to the situation in the area. He said at the same time that the issue cannot be solved by the deployment of air forces.

Stropnicky said it would be of some help if perhaps Russian fighter planes took part in joint air raids, they would definitely complicate the situation of Islamic State. "But this would not produce the desirable solution," Stropnicky said.

http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/zpravy/russia-likely-starts-attacks-in-syria-czech-defence-minister/1254326