(VOVworld) – The French Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that France has used cruise missiles for the first time against Islamic State (IS) during strikes in Iraq.  Long-range Scalp missiles were launched from French fighter jets based in the UAE and Jordan on a bombing raid that targeted a command centre, training site, and logistics depot in western Iraq on the border with Syria.

German soldiers disembark from a new Puma light tank during exercises in June 2015 (Photo: Getty Images)

Meanwhile, on Tuesday German troops began a campaign to support airstrikes by the US-led coalition against IS in Syria. A German airplane twice supplied fuel to coalition fighter jets. Germany plans to send 1,200 soldiers to Syria to support the international fight against IS. The German air force will provide four to six Tornado jets for reconnaissance.