Report: France Mulls Joining Syria Air Strikes on IS
France is considering joining U.S.-led coalition air strikes against Islamic State (IS) jihadists in Syria, a reversal of its current position, Le Monde daily said Saturday.
Neither the French presidency, the ministry of foreign affairs nor the defense ministry would comment on the report, with officials saying only that President Francois Hollande may address the question during his twice-yearly press conference on Monday.
France currently only participates in missions against IS in Iraq following that country's request for international help against the jihadists.
Paris has refused to join coalition strikes in Syria on fears that foreign intervention may inadvertantly help Syrian President Bashar Assad hold on to power.
But Le Monde said France is feeling forced by events to reconsider its position and contemplate joining air strikes and reconnaissance flights over the war-torn country.
"The accelerating exodus of Syrian (refugees), the failure of the coalition to push IS back to Iraq and the possible reinforcement of Russian military presence (in Syria) are challenging the French position," Le Monde said.
One French official speaking on condition of anonymity rejected the paper's claim, telling AFP on Saturday that "our line hasn't changed, and there's no question of joining the coalition in Syria."
However, official sources told AFP that Paris may renounce its pledge not to intervene militarily in Syria "for reasons of national security... (and) in complete independence" in response to France having been targeted this year by terror attacks and plots to IS-linked jihadists.
But at the same time, officials said, France's priority remains finding a credible political alternative to Syria's current regime.
Source: Agence France Presse
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