Hollande: France prepares for anti-Daesh strikes in Syria

France will begin reconnaissance flights over Syria tomorrow in preparation for possible airstrikes against Daesh.

“It is from Syria – we have proof of this – that attacks have been organised against several countries, including France,” Hollande said.

Speaking at his biannual press conference today, French President Francois Hollande said he has given the green light for French warplanes to fly reconnaissance missions over Syria and that these could lead to France carrying out airstrikes against Daesh targets there.

“For now, we will locate the command and intelligence centres of Daesh in Syria,” Hollande said.

“I told the defence minister that reconnaissance flights should be carried out over Syria. Then, according to the information and the intelligence we get from the reconnaissance, we will be ready to carry out strikes,” Hollande told reporters.

The newly-authorised French flights over Syria would not be under the command of the coalition, but would be “autonomous”, Hollande said.

The French president ruled out sending ground troops to fight Daesh in Syria or Iraq, saying it would be “unrealistic” because “we would be alone and inconsequential”.

France joined the US-led international coalition against Daesh in August 2014 but has limited its airstrikes to targets only in Iraq.

Asked about Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, Hollande said: “Bashar Al-Assad has attacked his own people and used chemical weapons. The political transition requires his departure. He has refused any dialogue. Any solution cannot permit his remaining in power.”