|
 "The carrier and its naval group has officially started missions
as part of its Chammal operation in Iraq," the source told Reuters
in a reference to the name of the mission.
A second source said the carrier would be engaged for several weeks.
Le Figaro newspaper, which is accompanying Defence Minister
Jean-Yves Le Drian ahead of an official announcement he is set to
make on the carrier on Monday, said the first reconnaissance and
possible air strikes in Iraq took place in the morning.
France was the first country to join the U.S.-led coalition in air
strikes in Iraq against Islamic State insurgents, who have also
taken control of large parts of neighboring Syria during the course
of the civil war there. However, it has ruled out striking the group
in Syria.
 The carrier is accompanied by an attack submarine, several frigates,
including a British anti-submarine frigate and a refueling ship.
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France has nine fighter jets, a maritime patrol aircraft and a
refueling plane at its base in the United Arab Emirates as part of
its Iraq mission. It also operates six Mirage fighter jets from
Jordan.
With the Charles de Gaulle, there are now more than 3,000 French
military personnel involved in the operation.
(Reporting By Marine Pennetier and John Irish; Editing by Andrew
Callus)
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