The ship is tasked with providing air defense cover for the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier.
"This barbaric terrorist organization must be destroyed and it's right that we offer all the support we can to confront them," Fallon affirmed. "We will consider any further requests for support from France under Article 42.7 of the EU Treaty following Friday's Paris terror attacks."
.@RoyalNavy HMS Defender to support French carrier Charles de Gaulle in fight against ISIL https://t.co/P9xZa0Lunf pic.twitter.com/9j1HScsypR
— Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) 18 ноября 2015
The move will provide a boost to multinational efforts, led by Russia and the US, aimed at tackling ISIL, the brutal group responsible for countless atrocities in the Middle East and beyond. Its latest assaults include the crash of a Russian passenger jet in Egypt, multiple deadly attacks in Paris on November 13 and bombings in Beirut two days earlier.
Russia will continue to fight terrorism. All civilised countries should join forces in this fight #Medvedev
— Government of Russia (@GovernmentRF) 18 ноября 2015
Belgium also plans to deploy a warship to the Mediterranean to support Charles de Gaulle. A Belgian frigate, the Leopold I, will provide combat cover for the French aircraft carrier, Defense Minister Steven Vandeput said.
The French aircraft carrier is heading to the coast of Syria or Lebanon to assist French forces already engaged in anti-ISIL fight.
#Lavrov: Yesterday, presidents of Russia and France agreed to coordinate counter-terrorist efforts @KremlinRussia_E
— MFA Russia (@mfa_russia) 18 ноября 2015
Earlier, Vladimir Putin and Francois Hollande agreed to ensure military and intelligence cooperation between Russia and France in their counterterrorism efforts in Syria. The Russian leader ordered the Moskva missile cruiser to establish contact with the Charles de Gaulle as soon as its reaches its destination to coordinate joint counterterrorism efforts at sea and in the air.
