France is reportedly deploying its largest warship in Syria region to continue its fight against the Islamic State (Isis) militants - two months after it joined the US-led coalition bombing missions in the region.
The French defence ministry said that it was sending in the massive Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to support operations against Isis in Syria and Iraq, Reuters reported.
"The deployment of the battle group alongside the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier has been decided to participate in operations against Daesh and its affiliate groups," the statement said after a defence cabinet meeting, referring to the Arabic acronym for Isis.
The statement also said that while Paris supported all efforts to bring in a political transition in Syria, however, it will never consider Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as part of the country's future.
France carried out its first airstrike against Isis in September, in what the country claimed was an act of "self-defence" to stop the radical Islamist militant group from carrying out more attacks on its soil.
The French carrier is expected to be accompanied by an attack submarine, several frigates and a refuelling ship.
The Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is the largest warship in Western Europe and is also the only nuclear-powered carrier in service outside of the US Navy.
The warship can support the operations of 40 fixed wing aircraft and helicopters including Rafale M, Super Étendard, E-2C Hawkeye, SA365 Dauphin, EC725 Caracal and AS532 Cougar.
