France launches biggest raid in Syria following Paris attacks

France has launched its biggest raid in Syria to date targeting the ISIL stronghold of Raqqa in response to the attacks in Paris on 13 November.

Terrorist group ISIL claimed responsibility for the attacks, which killed 129 people to date and injured more than 350 across a number of locations in Paris.

The operation in Syria was carried out in coordination with US forces and saw 10 fighter jets launched from the United Arab Emirates and Jordan drop a total of 20 bombs across the stronghold, targeting a command centre, recruitment centre for jihadists, a munitions depot, and a training camp for fighters.

The sites in Raqqa had been previously identified by coalition forces on reconnaissance flights in the area.

A statement from French authorities said: “The raid, including 10 fighter jets, was launched simultaneously from the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. Twenty bombs were dropped. The first target destroyed was used by Daesh [ISIL] as a command post, jihadist recruitment centre and arms and munitions depot. The second held a terrorist training camp.”

The military action was agreed between French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drain and the US defence secretary Ash Carter in phone calls over the weekend and follows French President François Hollande labelling the attacks in Pairs an ‘act of war’.

Speaking at the G20 summit in Turkey, French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, said: “France has always said that because she has been threatened and attacked by Daesh [ISIL], it would be normal that she would react in the framework of self-defence. That’s what we did today with the strikes on Raqqa. We can’t let Daesh [ISIL] act without reacting.”