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French Parl't approves extension of Syria military operations

PARIS, Nov 25 (KUNA) -- The French National Assembly, or lower house of parliament, on Wednesday massively voted approval for prolonging military operations in Syria, notably air strikes against Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) from bases in Jordan, the UAE and from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Mediterranean.
With 529 Deputies present, 515 voted to continue the French intervention in Syria, four voted against and ten parliamentarians abstained.
In a lengthy debate on the conflict, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls galvanized bi-partisan support for continued military involvement in Syria, warning that France was under attack from "Daesh (ISIL)" and must exercise its "legitimate defence".
"We have no other aim than to strike Daesh and eliminate it," he declared in the debate.
He called for the broadest coalition possible to defeat ISIL, and he urged all countries, both in the region and outside, to take part in this battle.
Speaking to the Parliament, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian revealed that France has 38 war planes taking part in operations against "the terrorist group" and these are operating from Jordan, the UAE and the Charles de Gaulle carrier.
He indicated that the aircraft carrier group, currently based in the eastern Mediterranean, would soon be moved to the Gulf region to continue its operations.
Le Drian said that there were 4,000 military personnel currently deployed in "Operation Shamal," the code name for the French military operation in Iraq and Syria.
France has been striking ISIL targets in Iraq since a year ago and began hitting ISIL in Syria in November, which is viewed as part of the reason ISIL terrorists struck in Paris on November 13 and killed 129 people, wounding 352 others.
While the ongoing "Operation Shamal" will continue to "strike the heart of Daesh" at its headquarters in Al-Raqqa, there is also a focus on striking the infrastructure and resources of the group, Le Drian noted.
He said that the operations in Iraq were meeting success in limiting ISIL's territorial expansion and pushing it back in certain areas, particularly in Iraq, and he called for preventing the ISIL forces from making any gains near Jordan, Lebanon or Turkey. He said that Turkey's role was important and that there would have to be "a very clear dialogue" with Turkey "about its positioning" in the conflict.
Le Drian also said that vigilance is required to prevent ISIL implanting itself deeply in North Africa, where it has already carried out terrorist operations in Libya and Tunisia.
We must "destroy Daesh as quickly as possible," he urged, calling for "common action" that will mobilise the military might to do so.
But he realistically pointed out that air operations and strikes would not be enough to defeat the terrorists. The mobilisation of "local forces" will be needed to take the fight to ISIL on the ground, he affirmed.
France will "train, instruct and equip these forces," the Defence Minister said, all the while ruling out a ground offensive by French troops in Iraq or Syria. (end) jk.hb