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France launches first air strikes on IS in Iraq France launches first air strike on IS in Iraq
(35 minutes later)
French jets have carried out their first strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq, the office of President Francois Hollande says. French jets have carried out their first strike against Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq, the office of President Francois Hollande says.
A statement said planes had attacked an IS logistics depot in north-east Iraq. A statement said planes had attacked an IS depot in north-east Iraq, and there would be more raids in the coming days.
France was already carrying out reconnaissance flights over Iraq and providing weapons to Kurdish fighters. The US has carried out more than 170 air strikes against the jihadist group in Iraq since mid-August.
President Hollande said on Thursday he had agreed to an Iraqi request for air support, but it would only target IS in Iraq and not in neighbouring Syria. IS remains in control of dozens of cities and towns in Iraq and Syria, where it has declared a caliphate.
Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence correspondent
France is the first of Washington's allies to strike at IS targets. The mission underscores the perhaps surprising military activism of the socialist French president.
He has committed his country to military interventions in Mali, Central Africa and now Iraq. The French government has made it clear that its air strikes will be restricted to IS targets in Iraq and that there will be no French troops involved in fighting on the ground.
This geographical restriction of French air operations underscores the complexity of President Obama's stated aim of degrading and disrupting IS activities in Syria too.
That is a mission that US air power may have to take on alone and, despite the fact that Congress is moving to back a "train and equip" programme for the "moderate" Syrian opposition, there are still many questions about how effectively the counter-IS struggle can be extended to Syrian territory as well.
Friday's air strike comes a day after President Hollande said he had agreed to an Iraqi request for air support, but it would only target IS in Iraq and not in neighbouring Syria.
He also insisted that he would not send ground troops.He also insisted that he would not send ground troops.
On Friday, Mr Hollande's office said Rafale planes had carried out the attack and "the objective was hit and completely destroyed". France had already been carrying out reconnaissance flights over Iraq and providing weapons to Kurdish fighters in the north.
Mr Hollande's office said Rafale planes had carried out the attack and "the objective was hit and completely destroyed".
It did not give details on the type of material at the depot, nor its exact location.It did not give details on the type of material at the depot, nor its exact location.
"Other operations will follow in the coming days," the statement added."Other operations will follow in the coming days," the statement added.
President Hollande visited Iraq last week and Paris hosted an international conference on the crisis on Monday. On Monday, France hosted an international conference that saw 26 countries pledge their commitment to supporting the new Iraqi government in its fight against IS "by any means necessary, including appropriate military assistance".
The jihadist group IS - which is also known as Isis or Isil - controls large areas of Syria and northern Iraq, and the US has carried out more than 170 air strikes against it in Iraq since mid-August. The UK has also been conducting reconnaissance flights in support of the US air campaign.
It has not ruled out air strikes in Iraq or Syria, but has said that targeting IS positions in the latter would be complicated.
On Thursday, the US Senate approved President Barack Obama's plan to arm and train moderate Syrian rebels to fight IS.On Thursday, the US Senate approved President Barack Obama's plan to arm and train moderate Syrian rebels to fight IS.
US air strikes are now expected in Syria, but Mr Obama has pledged to not authorise a ground operation in either country.US air strikes are now expected in Syria, but Mr Obama has pledged to not authorise a ground operation in either country.