France strikes ISIS from newly-deployed carrier — ministry

In this April 12, 2011 file photo, France’s flagship Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, right, steams with resupply ship La Meuse, in the Golf of Sirte, off the Libyan coast. France has deployed the aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf to help fight Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). AP

PARIS, France — France bombarded Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) targets in Syria on Monday from jets from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier newly deployed in the eastern Mediterranean, hours after announcing similar strikes in Iraq.

“Two air force Mirage 2000s were engaged in the mission,” the defense ministry said. “Simultaneously four Rafale Marines from the aircraft carrier joined them over Syria.”

The ministry added that the jets targeted a site in the northern town of Raqqa, the jihadist group’s de facto Syrian capital.

France launched its first air strikes from the aircraft carrier earlier Monday, targeting IS in Iraq.

The Syria air raids happened at 1830 GMT and “destroyed an active site occupied by terrorist fighters in Raqqa,” the ministry said.

The attacks destroyed all their targets including a command center, vehicle dumps and maintenance facilities, it said.

The action came 10 days after coordinated attacks in Paris which left 130 people dead and for which Islamic State has claimed responsibility.

France has ramped up its fight against IS since the attacks and its planes have carried out a number of raids on Raqqa from bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates in recent days.

The 26 jet fighters on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier triple France’s capacity to carry out strikes in the region.