French Secret War on Terror
A recent report by the French outlet Le Figaro has revealed that France has perpetrated its own secret war against Daesh” in Syria and Iraq for several years. It targeted the militants, who came to fight there from France, as the authorities want to prevent French-made jihadists from returning to their homeland. There have been about 1,700 such fighters registered; 300 of them have already returned to France and are on the watch list. Hundreds are detained and at least 300 were killed.
According to the media, there are two special groups within both the French military intelligence and interior security services listing targets for elimination. Orders concerning especially valuable members of terror groups of French origin are reported to come from the highest state level. From 2013 till 2017, at least 50 such targets were killed.
Straying From Its Goals
French politicians from different corners of the French political scene unanimously condemned the incumbent government led by Emmanuel Macron, who chose to join the US and the UK airstrike on several Syrian targets after an alleged chemical attack by the Syrian army in Douma.
READ MORE: 'Mission Accomplished': Trump Praises 'Perfectly Executed Strike' in Syria
French right-wing National Front party leader Marine Le Pen stated, “The strikes on Syria are involving us in unpredictable and potentially dramatic consequences. France has again lost an opportunity to act as an independent and balanced state."
Ces frappes contre la #Syrie nous engagent dans une voie aux conséquences imprévisibles et potentiellement dramatiques. La France perd à nouveau une occasion d'apparaître sur la scène internationale comme une puissance indépendante et d'équilibre dans le monde. MLP
— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) 14 апреля 2018 г.
The leader of the left-wing movement France Insoumise, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, wailed on the fact that France has lost its unique role in countering terror and bringing peace.
“The strikes against Syria were launched baselessly, without the UN authorization and against its rules, without European sanction and an approval from the French Parliament. There’s no political perspective in Syria. It's an American reckless revenge scheme, irresponsible escalation. France deserves better than this role. It must be the force of international order and peace,” his statement reads.
1/2 Les frappes contre la #Syrie se font sans preuve, sans mandat de l'ONU et contre elle, sans accord européen et sans vote du Parlement français. Et cela sans aucune perspective politique en Syrie.
— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) 14 апреля 2018 г.
2/2 C'est une aventure de revanche nord-américaine, une escalade irresponsable. La France mérite mieux que ce rôle. Elle doit être la force de l'ordre international et de la paix.
— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) 14 апреля 2018 г.
French former MP Nicolas Dhuicq also pointed out that only Islamic terrorists could profit from France’s joining the operation.
“Syria strikes, decided by President Macron, make me feel anger and shame. It’s a decision of political dwarves with no military effect, and France has lost its unique role in Syria, it used to have. Only our Islamist enemies can rejoice,” he posted on Twitter.
#Syriastrikes #Syrie frappes décidées par Président #Macron, sentiment de colère et de honte, une décision de nains politiques, aucun effet militaire, mais la #France qui avait sa place en #Syrie vient de disparaître dans le néant. Seuls nos ennemis islamistes peuvent se réjouir. pic.twitter.com/Rp8gkyWWoc
— Nicolas DHUICQ (@NicolasDHUICQ) 14 апреля 2018 г.
READ MORE: 'If Something Happens in Syria, France Will Join US in War' – Journalist
