French military says coalition airstrikes destroy Islamic State missile factory, warehouse

PARIS – The French military says its warplanes have destroyed a site in Syria used by Islamic State extremists to produce missiles and store weapons.

The Defense Ministry said in a statement Sunday that the overnight airstrikes targeted a site east of Aleppo, in an operation conducted by Rafale fighter jets using SCALP cruise missiles.

The French jets were acting jointly with the U.S.-led coalition, the statement said.

France joined the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State extremists in Iraq in 2014 and expanded its operations to Syria in September. French warplanes intensified military action against IS targets after the extremist group claimed responsibility for attacks in Paris on Nov. 13 that killed 130 people.