AFP, Paris :
The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its fleet will be deployed to the Gulf to support operations against the Islamic State group, a military news site reported on Tuesday.
The deployment of the marine battle group is due to be announced by President Francois Hollande when he gives his annual new year’s speech to the armed forces onboard the Charles de Gaulle on January 14, according to the “Mer et Marine” news site.
According to Mer et Marine, the Charles de Gaulle carrier will travel to the Gulf with its fleet of air and naval craft, including Rafale and Super Etendard fighter jets and an attack submarine, to take part in the US-led bombing campaign against IS forces in Iraq.
The president’s office, navy and army did not respond to requests from AFP for confirmation.
France currently has nine Rafale and six Mirage fighters engaged in the campaign-based in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan-as part of Operation Chammal launched in September, along with a C135 supply plane, E-3F surveillance and control plane and an Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft.
Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in early December that French planes had carried out “120 to 130 missions”-primarily intelligence-gathering operations.
Another report adds: the United States has donated 250 mine-resistant, armour-protected vehicles (MRAPs) to the Iraqi army for use in its campaign against the Islamic State jihadist group, US ambassador Stuart Jones said Tuesday.
“The number one threat to the Iraqi security forces are roadside bombs and vehicle-borne bombs,” said Jones, whose country is leading a multinational coalition in air strikes on IS in both Iraq and Syria.
“These vehicles will save Iraqi lives and enable Iraqi security forces to win the fight” against IS, he said in a statement.
The statement did not give the cost of the MRAPs, or say when they were to be delivered, but did say Washington gave Iraq $300 million in weapons, materiel and training last year.
This included 12,000 sets of body armour, Kevlar helmets and medical kits, as well as counter-IED (homemade bomb) equipment, and included vehicle maintenance, and tank and helicopter maintenance training.
The United States will also deliver 10,000 M16A2 assault rifles to the army early this year.
The military aid comes under the strategic framework agreement between the two countries.
The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its fleet will be deployed to the Gulf to support operations against the Islamic State group, a military news site reported on Tuesday.
The deployment of the marine battle group is due to be announced by President Francois Hollande when he gives his annual new year’s speech to the armed forces onboard the Charles de Gaulle on January 14, according to the “Mer et Marine” news site.
According to Mer et Marine, the Charles de Gaulle carrier will travel to the Gulf with its fleet of air and naval craft, including Rafale and Super Etendard fighter jets and an attack submarine, to take part in the US-led bombing campaign against IS forces in Iraq.
The president’s office, navy and army did not respond to requests from AFP for confirmation.
France currently has nine Rafale and six Mirage fighters engaged in the campaign-based in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan-as part of Operation Chammal launched in September, along with a C135 supply plane, E-3F surveillance and control plane and an Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft.
Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in early December that French planes had carried out “120 to 130 missions”-primarily intelligence-gathering operations.
Another report adds: the United States has donated 250 mine-resistant, armour-protected vehicles (MRAPs) to the Iraqi army for use in its campaign against the Islamic State jihadist group, US ambassador Stuart Jones said Tuesday.
“The number one threat to the Iraqi security forces are roadside bombs and vehicle-borne bombs,” said Jones, whose country is leading a multinational coalition in air strikes on IS in both Iraq and Syria.
“These vehicles will save Iraqi lives and enable Iraqi security forces to win the fight” against IS, he said in a statement.
The statement did not give the cost of the MRAPs, or say when they were to be delivered, but did say Washington gave Iraq $300 million in weapons, materiel and training last year.
This included 12,000 sets of body armour, Kevlar helmets and medical kits, as well as counter-IED (homemade bomb) equipment, and included vehicle maintenance, and tank and helicopter maintenance training.
The United States will also deliver 10,000 M16A2 assault rifles to the army early this year.
The military aid comes under the strategic framework agreement between the two countries.
