French President François Hollande, after pronouncement of the French intervention in Syria. Hollande said that six French jets attacked a camp of the Islamic state on Sunday (27) (Alain Jocard / Pool / Reuters)
Claiming to act in "self-defense", France held its the 1st airstrikes against Islamic State (EI) in Syria, on the eve of the announcement of a Russian plan for a coalition against the jihadists. The attacks targeted a training camp of Deir Ezzor jihadists near (East), which was "totally destroyed," according to President Francois Hollande. "Our forces achieved their goals," he added.
Six aircraft were used and there were no civilian casualties in the attacks carried out on the basis of information collected during the air operations of recognition and provided by the coalition, said the French head of state. "Other attacks may occur, if necessary," he said.
Earlier, the Elysee assured that this action confirms the determination "to fight the terrorist threat Daech" (acronym in Arabic EI). These early strikes were conducted "in self defense" and have targeted "sanctuaries Daech, where they are trained those who attack France," he said, in turn, the French Prime Minister Manuel Valls.
Until then, Paris refused to intervene militarily in Syria, fearing that its military actions serve the interests of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, considered by France primarily responsible for the war in his country. France began on September 8 reconnaissance flights over Syria. A year ago, she leads a bombing campaign in Iraq (Chamal operation, with about 215 attacks and destroyed 344 targets), and expanded its operations to neighboring Syria.
According to Paris, which ruled out any ground intervention, the attack has as its main objective the prevention of terrorist acts in Europe to, in a targeted way, command centers, training and logistics of the jihadist group. Also occur amid serious crisis of Syrian refugees in Europe, while some political leaders argue that the bombing of EI could help curb the flow of refugees.
Since September 22 last year, the international coalition led by the United States bombed almost 7,000 times (4,444 attacks in Iraq and 2,558 in Syria), according to the American command data. Almost 80% of these attacks were carried out by American planes.
So far, the coalition air campaign did not achieve the expected results. In Iraq, no big city was recovered by pro-government forces. In Syria, although the EI have been contained by the Kurds along the border with Turkey, jihadists took Palmyra in May and recently made progress in the Aleppo region, dangerously threatening the supply routes to Turkey from other rebel groups. In addition, a US plan to support and train dozens of rebels is about to turn into a fiasco.
On the diplomatic front, after more than four years of conflict which left some 240,000 dead, the impasse remains: between procrastination in the Western camp, the support of the Turkish, Saudi and Qatari Sunni rebel groups facing the Assad regime, showing very clear signs of tiredness, but it has the support of Iran and Russia. Moscow has strengthened in recent weeks its military capabilities in the region of Latakia (west), stronghold of the regime. And President Vladimir Putin is preparing to announce a major plan for Syria, eat creation of a coalition to combat EI, and that should include Assad, currently seen as a pariah by the international community because of the terrible violence inflicted on his people .
In this context, Putin said on Sunday want to establish a comprehensive "coordination" with the countries of the region to combat EI. To Paris, "the Syrian chaos must find a global response," according to indicated the French presidency on Sunday, while many see the French bombings in Syria as a change in the French position in favor of the Damascus regime.
"More than ever, it is urgent to establish a political transition, bringing together elements of the regime and the moderate opposition (...)", according to the presidency. But some experts are skeptical about the effectiveness of French air strikes. They see especially a political dimension and a way to get back into the diplomatic game on the eve of the 70th UN General Assembly, which begins Monday in New York.
(With AFP)