TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - French fighter jets are targeting new areas that are controlled by Islamic State (IS) fighters in northern Baghdad, in support of Iraqi ground forces which had been deployed near Tikrit, said a spokesperson for France's Ministry of Defence in Paris on Monday, October 20, 2014.
Throughout a surveillance mission over Tikrit, which is located 200 kilometres north of Baghdad, two Rafale fighter planes destroyed two support trucks owned by Daesh militias, said the spokesperson in a statement.
The French offensive is its third operation since France decided to join the United States (US) led military coalition to combat IS fighters and to restore peace and order within Iraq.
That said, Paris has adamantly decided against deploying its ground troops in Iraq.
To date, France has deployed a tanker aircraft and nine fighter jets to help destroy IS targets in the region, said the Ministry.
It is known that IS militias have taken control over one-third of Iraq's territory, as well as a number of major cities and towns in Syria. The hardline, Islamist group has displaced thousands of people from their homes and threatened the stability of the region.
ANTARA | ADE MARBOEN
