France mourns hostage, orders new attacks
An image grab released by Jund al-Khilafa, or “Soldiers of the Caliphate” shows Frenchman Herve Gourdel, 55, kneeling on the ground with his hands tied behind his back. He was later beheaded. An Algerian television network reported on Tuesday that the army has killed the head of the Jund al-Khilafa jihadist group behind the beheading the Frenchman. FILE PHOTO |
What you need to know:
- Paris opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq but was one of the first to sign up for an active role in the US-led campaign against the IS group.
- The abduction of Gourdel on Sunday in the restive east of Algeria and his subsequent execution at the hands of IS-linked Algerian group Jund al-Khilifa, or “Soldiers of the Caliphate,” sparked global outrage and an outpouring of grief in France.
PARIS, Thursday
France launched a fresh round of air strikes in Iraq Thursday and pledged more support for Syrian opposition forces as it upped its fight against Islamic State jihadists after the beheading of hostage Herve Gourdel.
President Francois Hollande pledged “determination, composure and vigilance” in the face of threats issued by IS militants sowing terror in Iraq and Syria, and announced flags nationwide would be flown at half-mast for three days from Friday to mourn the mountaineer’s loss.
In the small, southern Alpine village of Saint-Martin-Vesubie where the 55-year-old worked as a mountain guide, distressed locals and friends prepared to take part in a silent march for him later today, speaking of him with fondness, some with tears in their eyes.
“The village is utterly dejected,” said Greg, who owns a vegetable stall just in front of Gourdel’s office, where someone had laid a bunch of white roses against the door.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Mr Hollande urged “national unity” during the crisis, according to government spokesman Stephane Le Foll, who also announced France had carried out air strikes in restive Iraq on Thursday morning — the second in the space of a week.
PARIS OPPOSED
Paris opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq but was one of the first to sign up for an active role in the US-led campaign against the IS group.
It has six Rafale fighter jets and just under 1,000 soldiers based in the United Arab Emirates, and on Friday carried out its first air strike on IS targets in Iraq, destroying a logistics depot.
The abduction of Gourdel on Sunday in the restive east of Algeria and his subsequent execution at the hands of IS-linked Algerian group Jund al-Khilifa, or “Soldiers of the Caliphate,” sparked global outrage and an outpouring of grief in France.
Earlier this week, the IS group issued a chilling threat to all members of the Iraqi campaign, urging militants to “kill a disbelieving American or European — especially the spiteful and filthy French.”
In response, the French presidency announced Thursday that security in public places and on transport would be strengthened, and pledged to push forward with air strikes.
Paris has stressed it will not deploy ground troops to Iraq, nor will it expand operations to Syria, as the United States has done. (AFP)
