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Islamic State: France to offer Iraq air support | |
(34 minutes later) | |
France's president says he has agreed to the Iraqi government's request for air support for forces fighting the jihadist group, Islamic State (IS). | |
Francois Hollande told reporters that French air strikes would only target the jihadist group's positions in Iraq, and not neighbouring Syria. | |
He also insisted that he would not be sending ground troops. | |
France is already carrying out reconnaissance flights over Iraq and providing weapons to Kurdish fighters. | |
US fighter jets and drones have undertaken more than 170 air strikes on IS in Iraq since mid-August in an effort to protect US personnel and displaced Iraqis, and secure key infrastructure. | |
The air campaign has enabled Iraqi and Kurdish forces to retake the important Mosul Dam, along with several small towns. | |
However, the jihadists remain in control of dozens of cities and towns in Iraq and Syria, where they have announced the creation of a caliphate. |