French airstrikes in Syria symbolic, commentators say

PARIS

French airstrikes against Daesh in Syria are largely symbolic and will do little to affect the terror group, commentators said Monday.

On Sunday, France announced it had attacked targets in Syria for the first time following its participation in the air campaign against Daesh in Iraq since August 2014.

President Francois Hollande said the strikes on a training camp near Deir al-Zour were a response to threats to the security of France.

Eric Denece, director of the French Center for Research on Intelligence, described France’s involvement in the Syrian air campaign as “symbolic actions” that would have “almost zero effect” on Daesh.

“The airstrikes will remain very limited as France has a small number of airplanes involved,” he told Anadolu Agency. “In Iraq, France has carried out just 4 percent of coalition strikes.”

He added: “Hollande wants to show his commitment… but France has absolutely no interest in the region.”

Bruno Le Maire, a lawmaker with the center-right Republicans, said the attacks were “insufficient”. Speaking to broadcaster BFMTV, he called for a “French initiative… to form a true international coalition”.

The Syrian civil war has claimed more than 250,000 lives since 2011 and led to 4 million Syrians leaving their homes. The conflict has seen the rise of extremist groups such as Daesh and al-Nusra, al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate.

The French attacks came before the UN General Assembly that will focus on Syria and seek a political solution to the war.