France launches first air strikes against ISIL in Syria

President Francois Hollande confirms jets have targeted Islamic State extremists in Syria, joining US-led coalition

France has been carrying out air strikes against ISIL in Iraq since last year [Khaled Desouki/AFP]

Paris (AFP):  France has carried out its first air strikes against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) in Syria, the office of Francois Hollande announced on Sunday.

The announcement from President Francois Hollande's office on Sunday came after a year of hesitation.

Hollande had resisted the raids in Syria, saying he did not want to strengthen Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, who is the target of ISIL fighters.

Hollande announced a change in strategy earlier this month because of growing concern about the Syrian refugee crisis that is putting pressure on Europe - the preferred destination for the asylum seekers.

In Iraq, France has been carrying out the air raids since last year as part of the US-led coalition.

Hollande, heading to the UN General Assembly on Sunday where Syrian crisis was expected to be the key subject of debate, stressed the importance of seeking a political solution for Syria. 

"More than ever the urgency is putting in place a political transition", including elements of the opposition and Assad's regime, Hollande said.

In the lead-up to the UN gathering, John Kerry, US secretary of state, met his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, on Saturday to discuss Syria.

Iran and Russia have given strong backing to Assad, whom the US and European countries such as France see as the instigator of a civil war that has left 250,000 dead and large parts of his country in the hands of ISIL.

Mr Hollande joins other world leaders in New York this week, where they are to discuss plans to defeat Isil and secure a political solution in Syria at the UN General Assembly.

The United States has ruled out a peace process that would leave Assad in power, as has David Cameron. However, both have moved towards a position which would see Assad remain during a political transition of indeterminate length, prioritising the fight against Isil.

Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister, said the brutal Syrian dictator could play no role in a political transition after the massacres of civilians by his regime, which is backed by Russia and Iran.

Russia has angered the West by strengthening its military presence in Syria in recent weeks. The US secretary of state, John Kerry, held talks with the Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, on Saturday.

A US-led coalition has been targeting Isil positions in Syria and Iraq with air strikes for more than a year.

At least a quarter of a million people have died in Syria’s civil war and Isil now controls large parts of the country.

France says it must target Isil in Syria to protect its national security. Mr Valls told parliament this month that more than 1,800 French nationals and residents are believed to have joined international jihadist networks. About 500 are in Syria and Iraq, and 133 have been killed in combat.

Federica Mogherini's comments followed reports that 500 Russian troops had been deployed to a forward operating base in the Syrian port city of Latakia.

"His fear is of a compete collapse of the state structures in Syria, this could be one of the reasons Russia is talking in this way but it could also be willingness to show that Russia is an important, substantial player," Mogherini said.

In all, nearly 30,000 foreign fighters have swelled extremist ranks in Syria, according to a confidential report by American intelligence analysts quoted in the New York Times. Many have joined Isil.