President Francois Hollande says France will soon begin air strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq.
Speaking at a press conference on September 18, Hollande said: "I decided to respond to the request of the Iraqi authorities to offer aerial support."
Hollande said France won’t send ground troops and that France “will only intervene in Iraq" -- ruling out air strikes against IS targets in Syria.
France has already delivered arms shipments and humanitarian equipment to Iraq in the face of the IS extremist group's rapid advances.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry welcomed Hollande's announcement.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Central Command said on September 18 that air strikes had targeted an IS training camp in Iraq for the first time.
Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters
