France carries out air strikes against ISIS

France says it has carried out its first air strikes against Islamic State (ISIS)  militants in Syria. A statement from the office of President Francois Hollande said that French planes struck targets identified during reconnaissance missions conducted over the past fortnight.

“The operation to fight the terrorist threat of ISIS was coordinated with regional partners.“We will strike any time our national security is at stake”, it said.

In an announcement earlier this month, France cited self-defence as its rationale for planning the strikes, while ruling out ground operations. French jets had previously carried out air strikes against its targets in neighbouring Iraq...
Meanwhile, David Cameron is to call for a new diplomatic drive to end Syria’s civil war as he meets world leaders at the United Nations in New York on Sunday. The UK Prime Minister is expected to drop his opposition to Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, playing a role in any transitional government.

Ahead of the UN gathering, US Secretary of State, John Kerry, met with Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, on Saturday to discuss Syria.