French President Hollande orders intensification of airstrikes against IS in Syria, Iraq
(VOVworld) - President Francois Hollande has ordered increased French airstrikes against IS targets in Iraq and Syria following the recent attacks.
French President Francois Hollande delivers a speech for the 70th General Conference of UNESCO at their headquarters in Paris, France, Nov. 17, 2015. REUTERS/Yoan Valat/Pool
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France urged the UN Security Council to authorize countries to "take all necessary measures" to fight IS after IS claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks. A draft resolution presented to the 15-member council called on UN members to "redouble and coordinate their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by IS and other groups linked to Al-Qaeda.
In another related development, French prosecutors have confirmed the identity of the mastermind of the Paris attacks, 28-year-old Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who was killed during a raid on Wednesday in Saint Denis in northern Paris.
The lower house of the French Parliament has voted to extend a state of emergency for three months since deadly terror attacks in Paris killed 129 people and injured more than 350 others.
Despite the attacks, President Hollande says France will receive 30,000 refugees over the next two years.