French lawmakers vote to extend air strikes in Syria
November 25, 2015French lawmakers voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to extend air strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Syria, which have been stepped up following the Paris terror attacks.
Paris has intensified its campaign against ISIS since the November 13 attacks that left 130 people murdered, this week launching its first strikes from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean.
The National Assembly approved a motion to prolong strikes by 515 votes to four, with 10 abstentions, as the defense minister said all 27 other European Union members had offered “direct or indirect” military support.
Prime Minister Manuel Valls told lawmakers again that France was “at war” with ISIS.
“There is no alternative: we must destroy Daesh,” Valls said, using the Arabic name for ISIS.
He said French planes, which started hitting ISIS targets in Iraq in September 2014, had carried out more than 300 strikes against the jihadists.
President Francois Hollande met his US counterpart Barack Obama at the White House on Tuesday and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris on Wednesday as part of a diplomatic push to forge a global coalition against ISIS.
Hollande’s efforts have so far produced only sketchy results – words of condolence from Obama but little in the way of firm commitments apart from an agreement to step up air strikes on the jihadists that US jets have already been carrying out for months.
The French leader will be hoping for better results from his meeting with Merkel, his key EU ally.
Earlier Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said EU nations had rallied behind France.
“All 27 member states have agreed to support France – whether in the form of direct support in the Syrian theatre, indirect support to our operations in the Levant, or indirect support in other theatres where French forces are engaged,” he said, without giving details of the support.
AFP contributed to this report.
Similar posts
-
Female Israeli Soldiers Who Defeated 100 Terrorists
December 6, 2023In the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, the valiant all-female unit of the Israeli Defense Force...
-
Dear World: I Don't Care
November 2, 2023By Avi Lewis I don’t care that you sympathize with Hamas I know you wouldn’t tolerate any of ...
-
Stand With Israel!
October 17, 2023Stand with Israel. Don't stand with the extreme terror organization Hamas. This is a war about huma...
-
Israel Thanks You For Your Support
October 13, 2023Israel extends its heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you, dear friends and supporters, f...
-
How Israel Benefits the United States
October 5, 2023The relationship between Israel and the United States has been a cornerstone of American foreign po...
-
How Israel Helps Its Arab Neighbors
September 27, 2023Introduction Israel, a country known for its rich history and complex geopolitical landscape, ha...
-
The Amazing Country of Israel
September 15, 2023Introduction Nestled in the heart of the Middle East, Israel is a nation with a remarkable histo...
-
Israel Safeguards The World From Terror Attacks
August 23, 2023Introduction In an era where terrorism poses a significant threat to global security, Israel sta...
