French Navy aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle strike group to deploy for operations over Iraq

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Naval Forces News - France
 
 
 
French Navy aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle strike group to deploy for operations over Iraq
 
According to French website Mer et Marine, France is about to deploy the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf where it would join coalition operations against the Islamic State in Iraq.
     
According to French website Mer et Marine, France is about to deploy the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf where it would join coalition operations against the Islamic State in Iraq.
The French Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (CVN) Charles de Gaulle (R91)
Picture: French Navy
     
The deployement will likely be made official on January 14th when French President François Hollande is expected to visit the aircraft carrier off the coast of southern France. A French defence ministry source told Reuteurs on Tuesday that France is sending its aircraft carrier to the Indian Ocean for naval exercises.

The Charles de Gaulle may deploy 30 aircraft including the Rafale M, Super Etendard Modernisé and E-2C Hawkeye.

France was the first country to join the U.S.-led coalition in air strikes in Iraq against the Islamic State when it launched "Operation Chammal" on September 19th. France however, has ruled out striking the group in Syria.