Sébastien Lecornu accuses Jean-Luc Mélenchon of “political disinformation”

The Minister of the Armed Forces responded sharply to a message from the leader of La France insoumise stating that “France is bombing in Syria”.

First day of the year and first controversy. Sébastien Lecornu described Tuesday December 31 as“irresponsible” the words of rebellious leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who affirmed that “France bombs in Syria” after French strikes against the Islamic State group. The Minister of the Armed Forces announced on “targeted strikes against Daesh sites” on Syrian soil, as part of the international anti-jihadist coalition, the first operation of this type for France in two years.

The ministry told AFP that Rafale fighter jets and Reaper drones had sent seven bombs on two military objectives of the Islamic State jihadists in the center of the country. “France is bombing in Syria”commented the leader of La France insoumise, still on X. “No doubt someone will think of informing the deputies of the why and how of this intervention. If that is the good pleasure of the prince”quipped Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

On X, Sébastien Lecornu judged this statement “as serious as it is irresponsible”denouncing “political disinformation”. And the minister recalled that France has participated in the fight against the Islamic State, within the international coalition “Inherent Resolve”, since 2014 in Iraq and 2015 in Syria, through Operation Chammal. The French Parliament authorized the extension of this participation on January 13, 2015, concerning the commitment in Iraq, and on November 25, 2015 for the Syrian territory, added the Minister of the Armed Forces.

The fall of Bashar Al-Assad's regime in early December was caused by a lightning offensive by Syrian rebel forces, led by a radical Sunni group. It leads to a total recomposition of Syria and also raises fears of a resurgence of the activities of the Islamic State group, which has historically remained very active in Iraq and Syria, even after the end of its caliphate.