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France is preparing to launch airstrikes in Syria in what it claims is an attempt to battle the Islamic State group, said French President Francois Hollande, with the preliminary reconnaissance flights over the region starting as early as Tuesday.
President Hollande announced Monday that he would advance the European nation's involvement in the region. He had previously withheld from contributing to the conflict in Syria, saying he did not want to strengthen the government of Bashar al-Assad.
“Nothing should be done to consolidate or keep Assad in power in Syria,” said Hollande at a news conference earlier this year where he laid out his policy priorities for the next six months.
The decision to become more involved in the region seems to be motivated by a concern that the Islamic State group plans to target several western nations, including France.
“My responsibility is to ensure that we are informed as much as possible on the threats to our country,” said Holland at a press conference Monday. “So I have asked the defense minister that from tomorrow reconnaissance flights begin over Syria that will enable us to consider air strikes against Islamic State,” he added.
Britain is in a similar position, with top officials talking about the need to consider extending air strikes in Syria to combat Islamic State militants, however the decision would require parliamentary approval, according to BBC reports.
France has been carrying out airstrikes in Iraq since 2014 in an attempt to combat the Islamic State group. In January this year, the French parliament voted overwhelmingly to extend aerial bombardment of the region after two attacks at a grocery store and a newspaper office in France killed dozens of people, with the perpetrators allegedly holding connections with the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda. Neither group has so far claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Meanwhile, back in Europe, France and Britain both pledged Monday to accept a combined 44,000 refugees and migrants, in response to the massive influx of people arriving on the continent.
Almost 400,000 people have arrived in Europe in 2015 alone, according to recent figures by the United Nations refugee office (UNHCR), the vast majority of whom are fleeing situations of war and poverty in their home countries, particularly Syria. The UNHCR figures show that 51 percent of all refugees and migrants this year are from Syria.
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The other main countries of origin of the migrants and refugees include Afghanistan (14 percent), Eritrea (8 percent), Nigeria (4 percent), and Iraq (3 percent) – all regions that are experiencing widespread conflict.
The migrants traveled to Europe from various points in Northern Africa and the Middle East, making a dangerous boat journey across the Mediterranean Sea often subjected to sexual and financial exploitation from human traffickers. Thousands have continued their journey after arriveing on European shores, making their way into Western Europe where they have faced violence and aggression at each border crossing and transportation hub.
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