French Navy Rafale M Fighter Aircraft Conducted Their First Strikes in Iraq and Syria

: Posted On Tuesday, 24 November 2015 08:50

Naval Forces News - France

French Navy Rafale M Fighter Aircraft Conducted Their First Strikes in Iraq and Syria

On Monday, November 23, 2015 at 19:30, French forces conducted new strikes against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria. The raid involved six fighters, and for the first time four Rafale fighters from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier. The raid destroyed one active site occupied by IS terrorists.

A Rafale M is launched from the Charles de Gaulle CVN - C.Cavallo@Marine Nationale

Taking part in the mission were two French Air Force Mirage 2000 based in Jordan. Simultaneously four French Navy Rafale M multi-role fighters joined them over Syria to conduct a raid against a previously identified site in Raqqah. Crews hit several facilities including a command center, a storage area for vehicles and maintenance workshops. The targets were destroyed. Attacking this site will disrupt the IS ability of movement and command.

Eearlier that day, two Rafale M patrols were launched to join the Iraqi theater. Each consisting of two aircraft, the two armed reconnaissance missions were intended to support the Iraqi forces against Daech directly involved in areas of Ramadi and Mosul. In Ramadi, the strikes have knocked out a group of terrorists. An artillery position which IS terrorists used to fire on Iraqi troops was destroyed in Mosul. In total, the operation lasted nearly seven hours. The four French fighters were refueled by coalition aircraft.

Launched on September 19, 2014, the Chammal operation mobilizes 700 soldiers. It aims at the request of the Iraqi government and in coordination with France's allies in the region, to provide air support to Iraqi forces in the fight against the terrorist group Daech. The device is structured around twelve Air Force fighter aircraft (six Rafale C and B , three Mirage 2000D and three Mirage 2000N) and a French Navy Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft. It also includes military units in Baghdad and Erbil for training and counseling of Iraqi soldiers. On September 24, 2015, anti-aircraft frigate Cassard joined the French forces engaged in the Levant. Since Novembre 23 2015, the carrier strike group (CSG) is engaged in the operation. It is currently deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean