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France considers airstrikes against Islamic State France considers Isis strikes as Hollande calls for engagement on refugee crisis
(about 2 hours later)
France will begin reconnaissance missions over Syria and is considering launching airstrikes against Islamic State militants in the country, president François Hollande has said. France will begin reconnaissance flights over Syria with a view to carrying out airstrikes against Islamic State, President François Hollande has said.
“We have proof that attacks have been planned from Syria against several countries, notably France,” Hollande told a news conference. He blamed the group for the refugee crisis in Europe as well as a number of terrorist attacks carried out in France and other countries. However, the French leader ruled out sending ground troops to Syria and said nothing should be done that could strengthen the country’s leader, Bashar al-Assad, or help him remain in power. “In the end, Assad must go,” Hollande said.
“My responsibility is to ensure that we are informed as much as possible on the threats to our country ... so I have asked the defence minister that on Tuesday reconnaissance flights begin over Syria that will enable us to consider airstrikes against Islamic State.” During a press conference at the Elysée Palace, his sixth since coming to power in 2012, Hollande also addressed the refugee crisis in Europe. He said France and Germany would ask the European commission to introduce an “obligatory and permanent” system to deal with those fleeing warzones and force member countries to take their share of asylum seekers.
Hollande ruled out ground operations in Iraq and Syria, and said coping with the flow of refugees into Europe in part requires addressing the problem of terrorism. He called on Britain to not shirk its duty. “Every country must engage,” he said. “The important word is ‘obligatory’ … and permanent, meaning continuing for some time.”
The United States is carrying out airstrikes in Syria and Iraq, but France had limited its planes to Iraqi airspace until now. Hollande said France would take 1,000 refugees who had crossed from Hungary into Germany in the past few days because “we cannot leave Germany to show solidarity and deal with this alone”. France, he added, would take a total of 24,000 refugees over the next two years – out of an estimated 160,000 accepted across the EU.
Hollande said resolving Syria’s war will only happen if Assad leaves power: “Assad, I must remind you, is responsible for the situation in Syria. He is the one who fired on his people during protests. He is the one bombing his people. He is the one who used chemical weapons.” He told journalists that France had been willing to carry out airstrikes against Assad’s regime after it used chemical weapons against civilians. He said France was again ready to join the coalition operation over Syria.
Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, said has admitted that the UN security council is failing Syria because of big power divisions which have prevented action to end a conflict. “Faced with terrorism, France has always faced its responsibility … some say we have to intervene on the ground in Syria. I consider it to be useless and unrealistic to send French troops there. So no, France won’t be sending ground troops to Syria, but we will be ready to conduct airstrikes depending on intelligence from reconnaissance missions,” he added.
Ban told the Guardian that Russia and China should “look beyond national interest” and stop blocking security council action on the conflict. “Reconnaissance flights will take place and afterwards we will make decisions. Assad is responsible for the situation in Syria. The solution is political, but a solution cannot be found that leaves Assad in place.”
Nothing must be done that could consolidate or allow Assad to remain, he added saying the aim would be for Assad to be replaced by a “wide government of unity”.
The US is carrying out airstrikes in Syria and Iraq, but France has limited its planes to Iraqi airspace until now.
Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, has admitted the security council is failing Syria because big power divisions have prevented action to end the conflict. Ban told the Guardian Russia and China should “look beyond national interest” and stop blocking security council action.
Hollande said he would be travelling to London at the end of the month to meet David Cameron and talk about the Brexit threat.
While France wished for Britain to remain in Europe, he said, solidarity with Cameron’s call for EU reform would depend on the UK agreeing to take its share of asylum seekers, particularly those from Calais.
“On the issue of refugees, it’s true that Britain is not in the Schengen area … but that doesn’t absolve it from making an effort in terms of solidarity, and David Cameron has said this himself,” Hollande said.
“In Calais, there are people who are not seeking asylum in France but to go to the UK. People must understand that you cannot demand solidarity when there’s a problem, and shirk your duties when there are solutions.”
He said he was happy to negotiate on certain issues of concern but added: “If the discussions are about the fundamentals of the EU … we stand for no treaty change.”