ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – French jet fighters operating from France’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier began targeting Islamic State (ISIS) militants in Iraq’s second-city of Mosul on Friday, ahead of the long-planned operation to recapture that city.
The Dassault Rafale jets took off from the carrier early on Friday. AFP quoted an officer on board who said these jets will take part in the upcoming Mosul operation in support of Iraqi forces.
France’s RTL radio station which reported that 24 of these Rafale strike aircraft are participating in Friday’s airstrikes against ISIS, with one sortie carried out roughly every three minutes from the carrier. The jets are reportedly armed with four 250kg laser-guided bombs.
France has been intensifying its airstrikes against ISIS in both Iraq and Syria in recent weeks as the militant group continues to lose ground.
As part of France’s contribution to the Mosul operation the Charles de Gaulle was sent to the region in early September and artillery is also being sent to the front-line to provide fire support to advancing forces.
The Mosul operation is expected to begin before the end of the year.
