France launched a retaliatory assault on the Islamic State (IS) capital in Syria, just two days after the terrorist group claimed responsibility for the deadly Paris attacks that killed hundreds last Friday (13 November).

Various media outlets reported that a raid on the IS stronghold of Raqqa was carried out on Sunday (15 November) as part of Operation Chammal, a French military operation targeting IS.

According to the French Ministry of Defence, 10 fighter jets flew simultaneously from bases in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan and dropped 20 bombs on Raqqa between 7.50pm and 8.25pm French time. A command centre, jihadi recruitment centre, ammunition storage base, and training camp were destroyed in the assault.

According to CNN, anti-IS activists in Raqqa said the city seemed to be bracing for an attack even before the French air raid. A member of the group reported that streets were empty before the airstrikes, with IS fighters appearing to have deserted many areas.

They counted 30 bombs that also hit a stadium, a museum, and a medical facility, among other things, reports the Washington Post. Water and electricity were cut off in the city while no civilian casualties have been reported so far.

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