According to a news report by AFP, a number of Rafale fighter planes have taken off from France’s only aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle on Friday. The news agency also quoted an officer on board, who informed that the planes would take part in an attack on an IS stronghold in Iraq, Mosul.
French radio station RTL reported that 24 aircrafts will take in the operation on Friday, with a sortie every three minutes on an average. The fighters were armed with four 250kg laser-guided bombs each, the report added.
Iraqi forces have gained significant ground in the battle for Mosul, which was occupied by IS in June 2014, and are expected to launch an offensive to retake the city soon.
Charles de Gaulle is a 38,000-tonne ship powered by two nuclear reactors. It has more than 1,900 crew, and is 260 metres (850ft) long.
Sourced from agencies, Feature image courtesy: bbci.co.uk
