French jets strike ISIS oil sites in Syria – minister

JORDANIAN MILITARY BASE, Jordan – French warplanes bombed Islamic State (ISIS) group oil installations close to its Syrian stronghold of Raqa on Friday, January 1, as France’s defence minister visited the Jordanian air base where the jets took off.

“I have been informed of the operations which took place overnight against oil sites. We must continue with this logic,” Jean-Yves Le Drian said during a New Year trip to the base, where around 250 French personnel are deployed. 

The first French strikes of 2016 were carried out by two Mirage 2000s around 2:00 am (0000 GMT), according to a military source on the base.

France is a key member of the US-led coalition that is carrying out air strikes on ISIS positions in Iraq and Syria. 

The aerial campaign was stepped up after the deadly attacks claimed by ISIS in Paris in November last year.

Bombing raids have increasingly focused on ISIS’ oil infrastructure, which provides a key part of the jihadists’ funding.

Two other jets took off from the Jordanian base Friday morning to serve as aerial support for Kurdish peshmerga forces battling ISIS around Sinjar, the northern Iraqi town that was cleared of the jihadists in November, the military source said.

They returned after 5 hours to accompany Le Drian’s plane as it landed in Jordan, the source added. 

The name of the base, where 6 Mirage fighter jets are stationed, is not being disclosed at the request of authorities in Amman.

Other French military assets in the region include the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, currently stationed in the Gulf, and 6 Rafale jets in the United Arab Emirates.  

France carried out more than 390 strikes against ISIS during 710 missions last year. 

It has provided extensive air cover for Kurdish and Iraqi forces battling the extremists in Iraq and has flown sorties over Syria since September, according to the military. – Rappler.com