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France launches recon flights over Syria

September 9, 2015

French Rafale fighter jets have been sent on a reconnaissance mission over Syria to gather intelligence on "Islamic State" targets. French FM Laurent Fabius has said the "flights will determine what action can be taken."

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Irak Frankreich Kampfflugzeug
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France on Tuesday launched reconnaissance missions over Syria in a bid to gather intelligence on possible "Islamic State" targets for future attacks.

"The decision announced by [President] Francois Hollande has taken effect. These reconnaissance flights will determine the appropriate time and action that can be taken," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told reporters.

Intelligence gathering

Although France is part of Operation Inherenet Resolve - the US-led coalition against the "Islamic State" militant group - Paris has yet to participate in airstrikes against the militant group in Syria.

However, French President Francois Hollande said during a news conference on Monday that France would be conducting intelligence gathering flights for possible airstrikes against the militant group, marking a substantial shift on Hollande's policy on Syria.

The first mission lasted more than six hours as French Rafale fighter jets accompanied by a refueling C-135 flew over Syria, according to a military statement.

"The Rafale were able to gather intelligence on the terrorist group Daesh ['Islamic State'] and reinforce the autonomous assessment capacities of France," the military said in the statement, referring to the militant group by its Arabic acronym.

'If we do not give more'

Meanwhile, France said it would give 25 million euros ($28 million) to tackle the surge of asylum seekers from war-torn Syria and neighboring countries.

At least 15 million euros is earmarked ($16.8 million) for refugee camps in Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon. The rest will go to an emergency fund for demining, housing and rehabilitating minorities displaced in the region.

"If we do not offer more help to the countries that welcome [refugees], if we do not give more support to the families that are in these refugee camps or are displaced in neighboring countries, then not only will there be tragedies…but there will be this exodus," said Hollande, reported Reuters news agency.

France has also said that it would take in 24,000 refugees from the Middle East over the next two years.

ls/jr (AFP, Reuters, dpa)