MOSCOW (Sputnik) — France conducted its first airstrikes in Syria in late September as part of a US-led international coalition that has been targeting ISIL positions in Syria and Iraq.
French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said earlier in October that the French Air Force carried out airstrikes on an ISIL training camp in Syria "not the first time" and pledged that France would continue bombing terrorists.
"There are terrorists in Syria who are being trained to commit terrorist attacks. As of today, some 600 Frenchmen are currently staying there, and we believe they are likely to return. We must neutralize them and stop them should they return. We are conducting strikes against [terrorist] training camps," Hollande told RTL radio.
