On Monday, November 23, 2015 at 19:30, French forces conducted new strikes
against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria. The raid involved six fighters,
and for the first time four Rafale fighters from the Charles de
Gaulle aircraft carrier. The raid destroyed one active site occupied
by IS terrorists. |
Taking
part in the mission were two French Air Force Mirage 2000 based in Jordan.
Simultaneously four French Navy Rafale M multi-role fighters joined
them over Syria to conduct a raid against a previously identified site
in Raqqah. Crews hit several facilities including a command center,
a storage area for vehicles and maintenance workshops. The targets were
destroyed. Attacking this site will disrupt the IS ability of movement
and command.
Eearlier that day, two Rafale M patrols were launched to join the Iraqi
theater. Each consisting of two aircraft, the two armed reconnaissance
missions were intended to support the Iraqi forces against Daech directly
involved in areas of Ramadi and Mosul. In Ramadi, the strikes have knocked
out a group of terrorists. An artillery position which IS terrorists
used to fire on Iraqi troops was destroyed in Mosul. In total, the operation
lasted nearly seven hours. The four French fighters were refueled by
coalition aircraft.
Launched on September 19, 2014, the Chammal operation mobilizes 700
soldiers. It aims at the request of the Iraqi government and in coordination
with France's allies in the region, to provide air support to Iraqi
forces in the fight against the terrorist group Daech. The device is
structured around twelve Air Force fighter aircraft (six Rafale C and
B , three Mirage 2000D and three Mirage 2000N) and a French Navy Atlantique
2 maritime patrol aircraft. It also includes military units in Baghdad
and Erbil for training and counseling of Iraqi soldiers. On September
24, 2015, anti-aircraft frigate Cassard joined the French forces engaged
in the Levant. Since Novembre 23 2015, the carrier strike group (CSG)
is engaged in the operation. It is currently deployed in the Eastern
Mediterranean |
