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France destroys more targets in IS stronghold in Syria: ministry

Xinhua, August 22, 2016 Adjust font size:

French fighter jets conducted more air strikes against the Islamic State (IS) targets in Rekka, its stronghold in Syria, the country's defense ministry announced on Monday.

On Aug. 21, French air strikes destroyed "a number of combat positions, arm caches and manufacturing sites of explosives and heavy weaponry," the ministry said.

Four Rafale and four Mirage 2000 fighter jets as well as an Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft had been used during operation. A dozen cruise missiles hit several targets "in the heart of territory controlled by the terrorist group," it added. The latest strikes "contribute to preparing fighting to take back Mosul in Iraq and Rekka in Syria," the ministry said.

In a previous interview with French radio, the Defense Minister Jean Yves Le Drian said the international coalition fighting IS insurgents aimed to retake Mosul in Iraq and Rekka in Syria by end of the year.

Since the Paris attacks carried out by IS in November 2015, France has intensified its air strikes against IS in both Iraq and Syria with the participation of its aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. Endit