However during that briefing, he said: “Parliament will be informed of the first operations. The Prime Minister will gather the parliamentary group and a debate could take place.”
According to media reports, the French strikes were directed at an Islamic State's logistics depot in North Eastern Iraq, close to the town of Mosul. "Other operations will follow in the coming days," the President’s statement said, without specifying any target.
France has been flying reconnaissance flights since Monday, in preparation for its participation in the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State.
"The French were our very first ally and they are there again for us," said U.S. General Martin Dempsey, who has been appointed by President Obama to head Washington's new military offensive on Iraq and Syria.
With the strike, France becomes the first foreign country to publicly join the United States' airstrikes. Washington aims at broadening the airstrikes into Syria, a measure rejected by President Hollande.
