France triples airstrikes to back Mosul offensive

3 November 2016, 6:27 pm

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French warplanes have tripled their rate of airstrikes to support Iraqi forces since the start of the offensive to retake Mosul from Islamic State militants, the French military says.

France carried out 63 airstrikes on targets around Mosul between October 17 — when the operation to take back Iraq’s second-largest city began — and November 1, a spokesman says.

Iraqi army vehicles drive through the village of Gogjali, a few hundred metres of Mosul's eastern edge, on November 2, 2016, as they head towards the city during the ongoing operation to retake it from Islamic State group jihadists. (AFP PHOTO / BULENT KILIC) — Iraqi army vehicles drive through the village of Gogjali, a few hundred metres of Mosul’s eastern edge, on November 2, 2016, as they head towards the city during the ongoing operation to retake it from Islamic State group jihadists. (AFP PHOTO / BULENT KILIC)

In all, French jets launched 75 strikes in both Iraq and on IS targets in Syria during the same period.

French jets, operating as part of the international coalition against IS, fly from bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates and the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean.

— AFP