For the first time, France—purportedly acting in "self-defence"—carried out airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria, "totally destroying" one jihadist camp in the eastern town of Deir al-Zour, President Francois Hollande announced on Sunday.
He hastened to add that there were no casualties among civilians, a CNN report said.
The air campaign against ISIS is part of the strategy of the US-led coalition which has been trying to roll back the gains made by the ISIS in Iraq and Syria. France has already carried out 215 airstrikes in Iraq but had not sent its warplanes over Syria—until Sunday—citing an international law that prevented its forces from attacking targets in that country.
Speaking in New York before the start of the UN General Assembly, Hollande said "a political solution was needed" to end the Syrian crisis, but made it clear that President Bashar al-Assad could not be part of it.
"More than ever the urgency is putting in place a political transition," including elements of the moderate opposition and Assad's regime,'' he said.
"This political solution requires that all stakeholders are involved... We are not excluding anyone," he added.
France reportedly launched the airstrikes after finding out that ISIS was using its territory in Syria in training its fighters for future attacks in Europe, USA Today reported.
Hollande cited "proof of plans for attacks on France."
Citing unnamed intelligence and law enforcement officials, the New York Times said "nearly 30, 000 foreign recruits—including more than 250 Americans—have poured into Syria in the past 12 months, many to join the Islamic State."
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls told television station BFMTV that the French government was "acting in self-defence" when it launched the airstrikes.
He said French warplanes would carry out more strikes in the coming weeks if necessary and given the necessity of the situation.
Valls also said even as the airstrikes were part of the action taken by the US-led coalition, France is "deciding independently who and what to hit in Syria.''
In an earlier statement, Hollande said the campaign was aimed at "protecting our territory, cutting short terrorist actions, acting in legitimate defence.''
"Civilian populations must be protected from all forms of violence, that of ISIS and other terrorist groups but also the murderous bombardments of Bashar Assad,'' the President said.
The gathering of world leaders in New York for the UN General Assembly was held to drum up solutions for Syria's political crisis triggered by the ISIS and the resulting refugee crisis.
