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by Our Foreign Desk
FRANCE became the latest state to disregard international law by bombing Islamic State (Isis) targets in Syria yesterday without consultation with the Damascus government.
President Francois Hollande boasted that six jet fighters had targeted and destroyed an Isis training camp in eastern Syria.
“The camp was totally destroyed,” he said, adding: “We’re sure there were no casualties” among civilians.
Mr Hollande claimed that the strikes on the training camp, and others to come, were aimed at “protecting our territory, cutting short terrorist actions, acting in legitimate defence.”
He said that more strikes “could take place in the coming weeks if necessary.”
The targets were identified in earlier French reconnaissance flights and with information provided by the US-led coalition.
“Our nation will strike each time our national security is at stake,” the president declared.
He stressed the urgency of putting in place a political transition in Syria, “including elements of the moderate opposition and Bashar Assad’s regime,” and said that he would be meeting “all the partners” in the Syrian conflict this week in New York for the UN general assembly.
However, the French president stipulated: “The future of Syria cannot be with Bashar al-Assad.”
US Secretary of State John Kerry met Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on the sidelines of the UN general assembly, saying that this week’s discussions could prove critical “to achieve peace and a way forward in Syria, in Yemen.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who will meet his US counterpart Barack Obama today, sharply criticised US military support for Syrian rebels yesterday, calling it illegal and useless.