French Fighter Jets Launch Air Strike On IS Strongholds In Syria

French fighter jets reportedly launched a “massive” air raid on an ISIS stronghold in Syria on Sunday evening, two days after the attacks on Paris, which the Islamic State subsequently claimed responsibility for. A statement from the French defence ministry confirmed that 12 French aircraft took part in a raid on Raqqa that was conducted in co-ordination with US Forces on Sunday night. It has been reported that 20 bombs were dropped on sites that had previously been identified on reconnaissance missions in the area. “The first target destroyed was used by Daesh [alternative name for ISIS] as a command post, jihadist recruitment centre and arms and munitions depot. “The second held a terrorist training camp.” According to Sky News, a spokesperson described it as a “massive” attack, and the biggest one conducted by France to date in Syria. At the weekend, French President Francois Hollande had stated that there would be a response to the attacks on the French capital on Friday night. “We are going to lead a war which will be pitiless,” he stated. “Because when terrorists are capable of committing such atrocities, they must be cetrtain that they are facing a determined France, a united France, a France that is together and does not let itself be moved, even if today we express infinite sorrow.”