FX.co ★ Charles de Gaulle launches first anti-ISIS missions in Syria and Iraq

The Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, named after former French president Charles de Gaulle, is leading a squad of military ships arrived to the shores of the eastern Mediterranean. On the photo: November 23rd, French attack aircraft launched their anti-ISIS mission.

On the photo: the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is on its way to the eastern Mediterranean.

The Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier has 1.9 thousand people on board, including sailors, pilots, and mechanics.

The ship’s normal air group includes eight Dassault-Breguet Super Etendard bombers, 18 Dassault Rafale fighters, and E-2C Hawkeye surveillance aircraft.

France does not give information on the Charles de Gaulle location, obeying security measures. The aircraft carrier is set to transit to the Persian Gulf following operations in the eastern Mediterranean.

It is planned that the aircraft carrier’s mission will last at least four months. On the photo: French naval technicians are checking the fighter aircraft on the flight deck of the Charles de Gaulle.

On the photo: Super Etendard bomber is landing on the flight deck of the Charles de Gaulle.

Since the beginning of the autumn, Charles de Gaulle has been accompanied by the Belgian frigate Leopold I and the French frigate Chevalier Paul.

The aircraft carrier is also supported by a submarine. Soon, the U.K. Royal Navy destroyer HMS Defender will be deployed to support the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in its mission.

France is a member of coalition consisting of 65 nations. All of them are participating in the anti-ISIS mission in Syria without permission of the local authorities. France decided to send its biggest warship Charles de Gaulle to the Middle East after bombing attacks occurred in Paris on November 13th.