French Airstrikes Against ISIL in Syria to Deepen EU Refugee Crisis

Possible anti-Islamic State airstrikes by French fighter jets in Syria will aggravate the migrant crisis that is sweeping the European Union, the political and communications director of a peace organization told Sputnik.

MOSCOW (Sputnik), Yulia Shamporova — On Wednesday, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced that Paris would join the anti-terrorist coalition of Western and Middle Eastern countries carrying out airstrikes against the ISIL in Syria.

“Experts and even President Obama agree that there is only a political solution to the internal crisis in Syria. Bombing by France or any other county will likely only inflame the situation and kill civilians. Additionally, more turmoil in the region will worsen the refugee crisis,” Paul Kawika Martin from Peace Action said.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with the government of President Bashar Assad fighting against opposition factions and militant groups, including the IS and the Nusra Front. Starting from 2014, the US-led coalition of some 60 countries has been conducting airstrikes against IS positions in Syria.

In an interview with Russian media on Wednesday, President Assad said that the US-led international coalition had failed as the militant group expanded its operations in the country despite the air campaign.