French air strikes on Islamic State in Syria `in coming weeks`: Defence minister

Paris: France will carry out its first air strikes on the Islamic State jihadist group in Syria "in the coming weeks," Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Wednesday.

The French Air Force has been carrying out reconnaissance missions over Syria since September 08, and strikes will follow "in the coming weeks, as soon as we have clearly identified targets," Le Drian told France Inter radio.