French President Authorizes Airstrikes Against ISIS in Iraq
Published at
Antoine Antoniol/Getty Images(PARIS) — French President Francois Hollande said Thursday he officially authorized French air attacks against ISIS in Iraq.
“In a national security council meeting this morning, I gave authorization to respond favorably to Iraq’s request,” for the airstrikes, Hollande told reporters in Paris. “I won’t go beyond that. There will be no troops on the ground and we’ll only intervene in Iraq.”
France now joins the U.S. in the battle against the militant group from the air. Since Aug. 8, the U.S. military has conducted more than 170 airstrikes against ISIS targets in Iraq.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, testifying before the House Foreign Affairs Committee Thursday, was handed a note about the news, to which he responded: “We obviously welcome that public announcement.”
Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio