Earlier, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian confirmed that "the aircraft carrier will be ready for a mission in Syria from Monday," a statement that was echoed by the commander of the vessel, Eric Malbrunot.
"The Charles de Gaulle will be able to stage strikes [against ISIL] as of November 23," Malbrunot said.
The exact position of the Charles de Gaulle was not named due to security reasons, but it was reported that the aircraft carrier would be deployed in the Persian Gulf.
FRENCH AIRCRAFT CARRIER MAY STAY OFF #SYRIA¦N COAST FOR OVER 4 MONTHS https://t.co/vX7NkMyW8N pic.twitter.com/H41P17NLHi
— Eta Centauri (η Cen) (@ECentauri) 19 ноября 2015
The French media reported that the Charles de Gaulle's mission is expected to last at least four months and that it may be prolonged.
On Sunday evening, the radio station Europe1 reported that the French aircraft carrier had already established communication with Russian warships that are based in the Eastern Mediterranean.
France's deployment of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle adds significant strike capability to anti-ISIL coalition pic.twitter.com/NtScySLYDX
— US Mission to NATO (@USNATO) 19 ноября 2015
Touted as the western Europe's largest aircraft carrier, the 42,500-ton Charles de Gaulle can carry at least eighteen Rafale fighter jets, eight Dassault-Breguet Super Etendard carrier-born strike fighters, one Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye early warning aircraft and a number of helicopters. The crew includes 1,900 sailors, pilots and mechanics.
Jets from nuclear powered French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle won’t be dropping French cheese and champaign. pic.twitter.com/LnRjyx77TE
— Dennis (@DL1651) 14 ноября 2015
Earlier this week, Paris said it expected anti-terror assistance from the rest of the European Union. In turn, Belgium and the United Kingdom pledged ships to sail with the task force, while Ireland offered to boost its troop numbers in a UN-led peacekeeping mission in Mali to allow France to redeploy soldiers elsewhere, if needed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, for his part, ordered the country's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to work out a Russia-France joint action plan on Syria. Putin also said that the Russian military should cooperate with the Charles de Gaulle's crew members, who should be perceived as allies.
On November 13, terrorists attacked several venues around Paris, killing 130 people and leaving over 350 more injured. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
France is part of a coalition of 65 countries that are bombing Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq, although they are acting without the permission of local authorities. Russia, meanwhile, is fighting alongside Syria's secular government under President Bashar al-Assad in order to secure national stability in the country.
