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French military advisers helping Syrian forces fight IS: reports

Xinhua, June 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

French military advisers have been helping the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighting Islamic State (IS) insurgents in the northern city of Minbej, local media reported on Thursday.

"The offensive in Minbej (northern Syria) is clearly supported by a number of states, including France. The support consists in advising," wrote the daily Le Figaro, citing a source close to French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.

Le Drian last week said French and U.S. soldiers were alongside the SDF in their operation against IS fighters.

"We are helping by supplying arms, air forces presence and advice," he said.

The SDF, a coalition of Kurdish and different minorities created since December 2015, aims to oust IS from northern Syria.

At the end of May, it launched a military offensive against the IS group with 3,000 fighters.

Officials in Paris said 150 French special forces have been deployed in the Kurdistan region in Iraq, though they did not reveal details on the number of units in Syria. Enditem