PARIS (AP) — France will deploy
an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf to assist the fight against the
Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
French
President Francois Hollande announced his decision Thursday at the
inauguration of the country's new ultra-secure defense ministry building
in Paris.
He didn't say when the carrier will leave the French Mediterranean port of Toulon.
The
Charles de Gaulle, France's only aircraft carrier, will boost the air
power of the U.S.-led coalition conducting airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.
The
French carrier had previously been deployed in the Persian Gulf from
February to April this year, conducting between 15 and 20 flights per
day, according to the French military.
France also has 12 jet fighters based in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan involved in the operations.
France's
new defense ministry building aims to bring together army, air force
and navy headquarters in order to make it easier to lead France's
military operations abroad.
About
9,300 military and civil staff who were previously dispersed around a
dozen different sites are now based in the 4.2 billion euro building
($4.6 billion), dubbed the "French Pentagon."
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