France to carry out air strikes on IS in Syria "in the coming weeks" -- defense minister

France would carry out first air strikes on Islamic State (IS) targets in Syria, joining the U.S.-led coalition "in the coming weeks", Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Wednesday.

Asked by France Inter radio about France's military offensive in Syria, Le Drian said air strikes, following the surveillance flights, would be launched "in the coming weeks, as soon as we have clearly identified targets."

Since Sept. 8, France had conducted two reconnaissance missions over Syrian territory to determine future action to halt the Islamist insurgents' offensive that "have made significant progress" in Syria.

France was the first country to join the U.S.-led coalition carrying out air strikes on Islamic State in Iraq, but repeatedly ruled out doing so in Syria, fearing that would reinforce Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Speaking to lawmakers at the National Assembly, French Premier Manuel Valls said on Tuesday France changed position as "Daech (IS) is the new totalitarianism. It uses Islam to impose itself and does not back down against anything."

"However, these strikes will not contribute to strengthening the regime of (Syrian president) Bashar al-Assad," the French leader stressed.

Valls ruled out "ground intervention", but "if a regional coalition were created to free Syria from the tyranny of Daech, then these countries would have the support of France," he said. Endi