French warplanes conducted airstrikes on the Islamic State militant group's de facto Syrian capital Raqa on Sunday, destroying a command post and a training camp, according to the defence ministry. Twelve warplanes, including 10 fighter bombers, dropped 20 bombs on the targets, reported AFP. These were the first airstrikes launched by France against IS since the deadly Paris terror attacks on Friday, which killed more than 120 people. The attacks were claimed by IS.
According to a French defence ministry statement, "The first target destroyed was used by Daesh [another Arabic acronym for IS] as a command post, jihadist recruitment centre and arms and munitions depot. The second held a terrorist training camp." The planes left from Jordan and the United Arab Emirates and the airstrikes were conducted in coordination with United States forces, the statement added.
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