France confirms military reinforcements for fight against IS

PARIS, July 27 (KUNA) -- French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Wednesday confirmed and outlined plans for reinforcing his country's military deployment and other measures to build-up pressure on so-called Islamic State forces in Syria and Iraq.
Speaking to the press after a Defence Council meeting, chaired by President Francois Hollande, Le Drian said he had also briefed relevant parliamentary commissions on the decision to scale up forces against IS.
"These decisions confirm the sending of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle into the zone from the end of September," he indicated.
"They confirm the installation of a tactical artillery group in support of the Iraqi forces in mid-September (and) they also confirm the reinforcing of our strike capability by the generalisation of the placing of Rafale (fighter-bombers) both in Jordan and in the United Arab Emirates from where they are to be deployed," Le Drian said.
Previously, the Rafale aircraft were being flown out of the UAE base placed at France's disposal and Mirage planes were using the Jordanian base. French aircraft have stepped up strikes against IS targets in Syria and Iraq since the terror attack in Nice last July 14, when 84 people were killed by a Tunisian truck driver who rammed pedestrians.
The Defence Minister after the Nice attack that French aircraft were striking IS in Syria and Iraq "on a daily basis".
Le Drian additionally said that the French army would be providing 10,000 troops for domestic security and anti-terrorist duty around the country. He said 4,000 of the troops are being deployed in Paris and 6,000 others around France.
It had been planned to put only 7,000 troops on this duty but the figure has been revised upwards after Nice.
Thousands of reservists have also been asked to answer a call for duty in view of the heavy security requirements. (end) jk.nfm