France terror response
January 14, 2015
Addressing the armed forces aboard the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, Hollande said that he continued "to regret the fact that the international community did not act in the required time to stop massacres in Syria and prevent extremists from gaining even more ground."
The aircraft carrier is to be sent to the Gulf to support the US-led coalition fighting "Islamic State" (IS) militants. France has already carried out air strikes against the terror group as part of the coalition. The carrier has a fleet of air and naval craft, including Rafale and Super Etendard fighter jets and an attack submarine.
Hollande said the carrier could, if necessary, carry out operations "with even more intensity and efficiency."
One of the gunmen who killed 20 people in attacks in Paris last week, had pledged allegiance to IS, demonstrating, Hollande said, that the situation "justifies the presence of our aircraft carrier."
French lawmakers on Tuesday approved continuing air strikes against IS, after Prime Minister Manuel Valls warned that "our mission is not over... we are faced with a war against terrorism."
Hollande also said the government needed to review the proposed cuts to French military personnel planned over the next three years to take into account the country's heightened security needs.
ng/gb (AFP, Reuters, AP)