France And Britain Agree To Send More Troops To Syria To Aid The U.S. Witdrawal

The Guardian: UK and France to send further forces to Syria in aid of US withdrawal

Move has been described as ‘major victory’ for Donald Trump’s national security team.

Britain has agreed to deploy additional special forces in Syria alongside France to allow the US to withdraw its ground troops from the ongoing fight against the remaining Isis forces in the country.

US officials briefed on Tuesday that Britain and France would contribute 10% to 15% more elite soldiers, although the exact numbers involved remain secret.

The decision was first reported in the journal Foreign Policy, which described the development as “a major victory … for Donald Trump’s national security team” because few other countries had been willing to help out.

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WNU Editor: The Germans are not onboard .... Germany Says No To A U.S. Request For Ground Troops In Syria (July 9, 2019).

More News On France And Britain Agreeing To Send More Troops To Syria

France and Britain agree to send more troops to Syria -- The National
Britain 'planning to send more troops' to Syria to backfill US withdrawal -- The Telegraph
Britain, France Agree to Send Additional Troops to Syria -- Foreign Policy
Britain and France will send forces to Syria ...but Americans will pay for it, report suggests -- RT

French Colonel Condemns U.S. Military Tactics Against ISIS In Syria

French and American forces offload supplies in Syria's Euphrates River Valley in May 2018. Image: French Armed Forces General Staff/Etat-Major Armees/Twitter

Middle East Monitor: French colonel slams US tactics against Daesh in Syria

A senior French officer faces punishment after publicly condemning the US-led coalition’s military tactics against Daesh in the east of Syria, accusing Washington of prolonging the conflict and disregarding a growing civilian death toll, the army said on Saturday.

Colonel Francois-Regis Legrier – who has been in charge of directing French artillery supporting Kurdish-led groups in Syria since October – said the coalition’s focus had been on limiting its own risks and this had greatly increased the death toll among civilians, as well as raised the level of destruction.

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WNU Editor: The French colonel probably has a point, but he is underestimating the lack of political and public will in the U.S. for any American casualties in Syria. A ground offensive over the use of artillery and fighter bombers may have ended the conflict quickly, but the casualties would have been high.

France Says That Its Troops Will Remain In Syria Even Though The U.S. Is Leaving

Reuters: France says Islamic State not defeated, troops to remain in Syria

PARIS (Reuters) - France will keep troops in northern Syria for now because Islamic State militants have not been wiped out, contrary to the U.S. view, and has started talks with the United States on the conditions and calendar of its withdrawal, officials said.

France is a leading member of the U.S.-led coalition fighting militants in Syria and Iraq and has special forces based in the north of the country, deployed alongside Kurdish and Arab forces, and carries out air strikes against the group.

A French presidency source told reporters members of the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a U.S. partner in the area, would be in Paris on Friday to hold talks with officials over the move.

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Update #1: France staying in Syria to fight ISIS, surprised by Trump decision (The Hill)
Update #2: France to stay in Syria after US troops ordered home: Minister (AFP)

WNU Editor: The French are not the only ones who are worried on what may happen in Syria with the U.S. withdrawal .... US planned withdrawal from Syria worries Western allies (AFP).

Russia Says France Was Involved In Tonight's Missile Strikes Against Syrian Targets In Latakia

© French navy

RT: Russia detects missile launches from French frigate off Syria’s coast in Mediterranean

Russian airspace control systems have registered missile launches from a French frigate in the Mediterranean on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

The French Navy’s newest frigate, FS Auvergne, fired rockets around 8pm GMT Monday, the Russian military said. “Airspace control has recorded rocket launches from the French frigate Auvergne,” the ministry’s statement read. The Auvergne is deployed in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Syria.

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Update #1: Russia Registered Rocket Launches From French Frigate in Mediterranean on Monday -- Sputnik
Update #2: Russia says a military aircraft vanishes near Syria during Israeli, French strikes -- Reuters

WNU Editor: Did Israel and France agree to launch tonight's missile strikes. It looks like the answer is yes.

French Troops Spotted On The Front Lines In Syria

Newsweek: What Is France Doing in Syria? New U.S. Military Photos May Have Shown Too Much

New photos released by the U.S. military appeared to show a greater French role in Syria than previously thought—but the images were quickly pulled from social media.

The official Twitter account for the Special Ops Joint Task Force involved in the U.S.-led mission against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria shared pictures Wednesday from the eastern Syrian province of Deir Ezzor featuring U.S. Army troops loading a mortar and a French light armored vehicle in the background. While France has been involved in the U.S.-led fight against the jihadis since 2014, this was the first evidence of the country deploying troops in this part of Syria.

Even though images were soon removed from the account, several users caught them—including broadcaster France 24, which reported on it the following day.

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WNU Editor: These pictures were taken last month. As for French soldiers being near the front-lines. No one should be surprised. The French have been working with the coalition against the Islamic State since the beginning, and the French do have a robust presence in Syria.

France's Foreign Minister Is Saying That Syrian President Assad And His Allies Have Won The Syrian Civil War

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. © Sputnik / Kirill Kallinikov

Newsweek: Has Assad Won the War? France Says He Has as Syria Warns U.S. Against Attack

Syria's top diplomat warned the U.S. and its Western allies Monday that they were not capable of preventing his country from launching a final assault on rebels as his French counterpart appeared to concede victory to the Syrian government.

In an interview with Russia's state-run Rossiya-24 outlet, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem repeated claims that Western governments were plotting to conspire with militants in the last rebel-held province of Idlib to stage a chemical weapons attack and blame Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as a pretext for military action. The U.S. and its partners have twice responded with force to reports that Assad used internationally banned poison gases throughout a seven-year civil war against rebels and jihadis, but the Syrian government, along with its Russian and Iranian allies, has dismissed these claims and other allegations of war crimes as attempts to frame the Syrian leader.

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WNU Editor: He is right. France has won the war, but they have not won the peace.

French President Macron Claims He Has Proof That The Syrian Government Launched A Chemical Attack Last Week

Reuters: France has proof Syrian government conducted chemical weapons attack: Macron

PARIS (Reuters) - France has proof the Syrian government carried out a chemical weapons attack last week and will decide whether to strike back when all the necessary information has been gathered, President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday.

France is expected to join the United States and Britain in carrying out air strikes or some other form of attack in response to the use of the weapons but it remains unclear when that might happen or even if it definitely will.

“We have proof that last week, now 10 days ago, that chemical weapons were used, at least with chlorine, and that they were used by the regime of (President) Bashar al-Assad,” Macron said, without giving details on the evidence or how it was acquired.

The attack on the town of Douma on April 7 killed dozens of people, including children.

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More News On French President Macron Claiming That He Has Proof That The Syrian Government Launched A Chemical Attack Last Week

Macron says has 'proof' of Syrian chemical attack, vows response -- AFP
Syria 'chemical attack': France's President Macron 'has proof' -- BBC
'We have the proof' Syria used chemical weapons, French President Emmanuel Macron says -- ABC News
French president Macron says he has PROOF that Assad launched horrifying gas attack in Syria that killed at least 40 -- Daily Mail
Macron: Assad regime used chemical weapons on Syria's Douma -- DW
Macron says France has evidence to prove Damascus’s use of chemical weapons -- TASS

Defense Ministry Official Admits That There Are French Special Forces On The Ground In Syria

VOA: France Deploys Special Forces in Syria as IS Loses Ground

ROME, ITALY—French special forces in northern Syria are assisting Kurdish-led militias in a drive to retake a pocket of territory west of the Euphrates River from the Islamic State terror group, according to French officials.

The French news agency, AFP, reports the commandos are not participating in combat in the so-called Manbij pocket and are restricted to advisory and training roles. U.S. officials have also insisted about 300 American special forces in northern Syria and embedded with the Syrian Democratic Forces are not involved in combat.

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More News On France Admitting That They Have Special Forces On The Ground In Syria

France says special forces in Syria advising rebels -- AFP
France Admits Special Forces Operating on Ground With Rebels in Syria -- Newsweek
ISIS Fight 2016: French Special Forces Advise Syrian Rebels, Defense Ministry Official Confirms -- IBTimes
French special forces on the ground in Manbij -- RUDAW
French military advisers deployed to assist SDF -- NRT
French military in Syria advising rebels, says defence ministry -- Middle East Eye
French special forces on ground in Syria – Defense Ministry official -- RT

Syria’s President Offers To Help France Fight The Islamic State, If It Drops Its Goal Of Ousting Him

Wall Street Journal: Assad, Opponents Weigh Impact of Deeper Western Involvement in Syria

After Paris attacks, Syria’s president offers to help France fight ISIS, if it drops goal of ousting him.

Syria’s troubles have spilled into the streets of Paris.

Following French President François Hollande’s move Saturday to assign blame to Islamic State for the previous day’s attacks in Paris, Syria’s president and his opponents weighed what deeper Western involvement might mean for a churning, multisided conflict that has already spawned scores of angry jihadists eager to hit European and American targets.

Speaking from the Syrian capital Damascus, President Bashar al-Assad said he had warned the West not to meddle in Syria’s affairs. But he offered to help France fight the terror group, provided it gives up its goal of ousting him from power.

WNU Editor: The French are not going to accept Assad's demand. They see him as one of the problems in the region .... not a solution. On a side note .... the above video of Assad is revealing. He looks old, and he has clearly lost weight.

France Preparing To Expand Air-strikes Against The Islamic State Into Syria

A French Mirage 2000 fighter © Kaisa Siren / Lehtikuva / Reuters

RFI: France considers air strikes against IS group in Syria: report

France is considering launching air strikes against the Islamic State armed group in Syria, Le Monde reported Saturday. The French newspaper quoted an unnamed "high level source".

The crisis of refugees fleeing civil war in Syria would explain this change in strategy, Le Monde said.

"Everybody realises that things can not continue as they are," it quoted the source as saying.

Since September 2014, France has been engaged in an international coalition supporting groups fighting against Islamic State militants, but until now has refused to intervene militarily in Syria.

More News On Reports That France Is Preparing To Expand Its Air-strikes Against The Islamic State Into Syria

France considers air strikes on Islamic State in Syria: Le Monde -- Reuters
France 'may extend airstrikes on Isil to Syria' -- The Telegraph
France Might Soon Begin Airstrikes On ISIS In Syria: Report -- IBTimes
France eyes strikes against ISIS in Syria – report -- RT

French Government Accuses Syria Of 'Massive Use Of Chemical Weapons'

France Accuses Syria Of 'Massive Use Of Chemical Agents' -- USA Today

PARIS — On Feb.14, 2003, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin told members of the United Nations Security Council that taking part in the war in Iraq without absolute proof of weapons of mass destruction and without a UN endorsement was not an option for France.

But now, a decade later, France is the only major European U.S. ally likely to support military strikes against Syria, and French President Francois Hollande seems even more eager to go to war than President Obama.

A French intelligence estimate released Monday alleges that the Syrian regime launched an attack Aug. 21 involving "massive use of chemical agents" and could carry out other strikes of a similar nature in the future.

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More News On The French Government Accusing Syria Of 'Massive Use Of Chemical Weapons'

French intel: Syrian regime led chemical attack -- AP
Syria crisis: French intelligence dossier blames Assad for chemical attack -- The Guardian
French intelligence: Syria's Assad behind chemical attack -- Reuters
France pins chemical attack on Syrian regime -- Al Jazeera
Now France joins U.S. in alleging that the Syrian regime used chemical weapons in attack that killed 281 -- Daily Mail
Syrian government behind 'massive chemical attack' -- BBC
French intelligence cites 'massive use' of chemical weapons in Syria -- L.A. Times
Syria 'staged 3 chemical attacks since April' - French intel report -- RT
French ministers rebuff opposition call for Syria vote -- Reuters
France says can't act alone on Syria, wants to create coalition -- Reuters
Syria’s Assad Warns France of Negative Consequences -- Wall Street Journal
Syria's Assad says French strikes would lead to 'repercussions' -- Reuters

France Still Committed To Launching A Military Strike Against Syria

France Set To 'Punish' Assad Without UK Help -- The Local

French President François Hollande on Friday warned that a strike on Syria could happen soon, despite his ally, UK Prime Minister David Cameron ruling out British involvement in any military intervention.

In an exclusive interview with left-leaning Le Monde, Hollande repeated his desire to “punish” the Syrian regime of Bashar Al-Assad for a chemical attack in Damascus, and said that Britain's surprise rejection of armed intervention would not affect his government's stand.

"France wants firm and proportionate action against the Damasacus regime," he said.

"The chemical massacre at Damascus cannot and must not remain unpunished. Otherwise, we take the risk of an escalation that would normalise the use of these weapons, and threaten other countries."

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More News On France Still Committed To Launching A Military Strike Against Syria

Hollande Backs Action in Syria -- Wall Street Journal
France: UK vote does not change will to act on Syria -- Reuters
France backs action on Syria as US seeks coalition -- AFP
Francois Hollande: France is ready to act, despite British vote -- The Telegraph
Hollande Says France Ready to Act in Syria After U.K. Vote -- Bloomberg
France: UK vote doesn't thwart plans to hit Syria -- AP
Syria crisis: Emboldened France seeks action -- BBC
France says Syria strike possible by Wednesday -- AFP

Are The French Getting "Cold Feet" On Military Action Against Syria?

France Reaffirms Support For Syrian Opposition But Holds Off On Military Action -- Euronews

The French president Francois Hollande has met with the leader of the Syrian opposition coalition in Paris.

At a press conference he appeared to say France needed more time before deciding on military intervention.

However Hollande confirmed his support for the Syrian National Council and condemned the alleged chemical attack in residential areas near Damascus last week. He also added that the Syrian opposition needed more support from the west in order to be a credible alternative:

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More News On France's Position On launching A Military Strike Against Syria

French president: ‘a political solution’ best to solve Syria crisis -- Al Arabiya
France says Western action on Syria 'difficult' -- Zee News
French President Hollande tones down war rhetoric against Syria -- Press TV
France tones down its rhetoric on Syria -- The Hindu
France ready to fight in Syria if necessary -- Times of Israel
French Military 'Ready' for Action Against Syria -- AP
French Defense Min: French Military "In Position" to Respond to Syria Orders -- Wall Street Journal
French Navy 'sends warship towards Syria' -- The Local