Australian Jets Complete First Attack on ’ISIL’ in Syria, French to Strike ’in Coming Weeks’

Local Editor

Defense Minister Kevin Andrews confirmed that Australian fighter jets had destroyed an armored personnel carrier belonging to "ISIL", the first operation by Australian forces in Syria.

"I can advise that two days ago the air task group completed its first strike against a "Daesh" ["ISIL"] target in eastern Syria, destroying an armored personnel carrier," Andrews declared.

He further stated that the expansion of operations into Syria was a logical extension of Australia's commitment in the Middle East and was needed to protect the security of Iraq.

"["Daesh"] controls a large amount of territory in eastern Syria that serves as a source of recruitment and oil revenues," Andrews said in a subsequent statement.

"From Syria, "Daesh" has been able to operate its training bases, conduct planning and preparation for attacks, and move fighters and equipment into, and out of, Iraq."

Australia agreed a year ago to join the US-led international force battling "ISIL" in Iraq, committing a squadron of Super Hornet fighter jets, as well as support aircraft and a 600-strong group of air force personnel and Special Forces soldiers.

In a related notion, Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Wednesday that France will carry out its first air strikes on the "ISIL" Takfiri group in Syria "in the coming weeks".

The French air force had been carrying out reconnaissance missions over Syria since September 8, and strikes will follow "in the coming weeks, as soon as we have clearly identified targets," Le Drian told France Inter radio.

France has been part of a US-led coalition bombing "ISIL" positions in Iraq for the past year.

But President Francois Hollande last week changed strategy to expand action to Syria amid mounting political pressure over terrorist threats faced by France.

France had so far confirmed it had carried out two surveillance flights over Syrian territory.

The United States, Canada, Turkey and Gulf states have already been involved in strikes on "ISIL" militants in Syria, and were joined on Wednesday by Australia.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team