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Anti-Daesh Coalition Loses Key French Aircraft Carrier to Maintenance

© AFP 2023 / PATRICK BAZ Charles de Gaulle Aircraft Carrier
Charles de Gaulle Aircraft Carrier - Sputnik International
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The Charles de Gaulle, France’s lone aircraft carrier, is set to return to France this December for scheduled maintenance, a move that could deal a blow to the US-led coalition against Daesh.

Refueling and maintaining the massive flattop cannot be delayed any longer, according to French officials, but France is intent on assisting the effort against Daesh in other ways.

"Daesh is enduring tremendous pressure," Rear Admiral Olivier Lebas said, adding, "it’s very important to maintain this high pressure to take advantage of this positive momentum in the theater."

Fighters of the Syria Democratic Forces prepare to fire a mortar shell towards positions held by Islamic State fighters in northern province of Raqqa. - Sputnik International
US Coalition Airstrikes Hit Daesh Headquarters Near Syria’s Raqqa - Task Force

Previously, French President Francois Hollande had postponed the maintenance, expected to last about a year. The Charles de Gaulle has deployed over 1,000 airstrikes over Iraq and Syria since the start of September 2015, Stars and Stripes reports, including at least 100 strikes since the battle over Mosul began.

Iraqi and Kurdish ground forces have continued their push into Mosul as Russian allies have advanced into Aleppo. Meanwhile, Kurdish forces are also working to isolate Raqqa, Daesh’s capital, according to Stars and Stripes.

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