French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian speaks during the fourth plenary session of the 13th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore June 1, 2014, the final day of the multilateral forum focusing on security issues in Asia. (Xinhua/Then Chih Wey)
PARIS, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- France will launch more air strikes targeting the Islamic State (IS) in Syria and training camps of potential terrorists to ensure its security, the country's Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Monday.
"There will be other strikes. There will be other commitments to protect us, to prevent these training camps and foreign fighters from training terrorists who come here in France and Europe to attack us," Le Drian told BFMTV news channel.
On Sunday, France launched its first strikes against the IS by targeting one of its "strategic sites" in Syria.
Earlier this month, Paris began reconnaissance flights in order to collect information on IS positions and targets.
France, a harsh critic of the Syrian government, had previously ruled out any military intervention in Syria to avoid handing any advantages to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
"The situation has changed," said Le Drian, adding the IS was preparing insurgents to commit attacks on French soil.
