Defense Official: French Carrier Enters Persian Gulf to participate in strikes against ISIL

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) French nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) has entered the Persian Gulf and could soon start strike missions against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL) fighters, defense officials told USNI News.

The ship entered crossed the Strait of Hormuz and entered the region on Feb. 15 after completing operations in the Gulf of Aden and is set to join USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) in conducting airstrikes.

“They’re in the [Persian] Gulf,” a spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) told USNI News.

“They haven’t gone operational yet but they probably will soon.”

French president François Hollande announced the mission on Jan. 14, a week after the attacks in Paris on the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

During his remarks in Toulon, Hollande said the attacks, “justifies the presence of our aircraft carrier.”

French aircraft were among the first to join the U.S. in strikes on ISIS in Iraq and Syria under Operation Chammal, the country’s contribution to OIR.

Charles de Gaulle is the flagship of Task Force 473, the French battle group that sailed from Toulon in January. The force includes 7,050 Forbin-class guided missile destroyer Chevalier Paul (D621) and at least one French nuclear attack submarine and a fleet oiler. /End/