MOSCOW, September 24 (RIA Novosti) – France will continue airstrikes targeting the Islamic State (IS) in northern Iraq, according to French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.
"We will continue airstrikes in the coming days. We are in a coalition and we have been called by Iraqi authorities to help them with an air support, so we will accomplish our duty," Le Drian told state-run television channel France 2 on Tuesday. "There are [terror] risks and we are considering them seriously," Le Drian added.
According to the minister, the French Air Force is currently undertaking surveillance activities with a view to prevent the extension of IS and allow Iraqi troops on the ground to regain control over the territories.
Commenting on the threats of the Caliphate Soldiers, a group linked to IS that abducted French tourist Herve Gourdel on Monday, the minister stated they will not change France’s position. He added that in 2006 terrorist group al-Qaeda called France "enemy No. 1."
French President Francois Hollande issued a statement Friday announcing the beginning of airstrikes against IS militants.
A video in which the abducted French tourist asks Hollande to stop military operation in Iraq appeared on the Internet on Monday. The Caliphate Soldiers said they would execute the hostage if France continued conducting airstrikes against the IS in Iraq. The French president’s administration promised to take urgent measures to find the French citizen.
