MOSCOW (Sputnik) — France is considering launching airstrikes against the positions of the Islamic State militant group in Syria, local media reported Saturday.
France currently only participates in airstrikes in Iraq and supplies arms to the so-called moderate opposition in Syria.
The French position on conducting the airstrikes, according to the newspaper, may be affected by the mass influx of Syrian refugees to Europe, coalition’s failures to curb ISIL advances and possible reinforcement of Russia’s military presence in the region.
On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow was providing serious help and equipment to Syria. Russia is ready to intervene in Syria to fight terror, but discussions of this are premature, the Russian president added.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with the government fighting against many opposition factions and militant groups, such as the Islamic State.
Russia, on the other hand, believes Syrian President Bashar Assad to be the legitimate government, and has been supporting the country militarily.
The prolonged armed conflict left hundreds of thousands of Syrians dead and millions displaced. This year, Europe has been dealing with an unprecedented influx of refugees from Syria and other countries in the region, who are seeking a better life.
