French Planes Bomb Islamic State HQ in Syria; Hunts Attacker Who Got Away

France launched “massive” air strikes on the Islamic State group’s de-facto capital in Syria Sunday night
French Planes Bomb Islamic State HQ in Syria; Hunts Attacker Who Got Away
French army technicians inspect a Mirage 2000 fighter jet on October 12, 2015, during a visit by the French Prime Minister and the Defence Minister at an army base in Jordan where French army aircraft are based. French air strikes in Syria may have killed French jihadists, a source close to French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said, although the defence ministry said the information could not yet be confirmed. AFP PHOTO / KENZO TRIBOUILLARD Photo credit should read KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP/Getty Images
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PARIS — France launched “massive” air strikes on the Islamic State group’s de-facto capital in Syria Sunday night, destroying a jihadi training camp and a munitions dump in the city of Raqqa, where Iraqi intelligence officials say the attacks on Paris were planned.

Twelve aircraft including 10 fighter jets dropped a total of 20 bombs in the biggest air strikes since Franceextended its bombing campaign against the extremist group to Syria in September, a Defense Ministry statement said. The jets launched from sites in Jordan and the Persian Gulf, in coordination with U.S. forces.

Meanwhile, as police announced seven arrests and hunted for more members of the sleeper cell that carried out the Paris attacks that killed 129 people, French officials revealed to The Associated Press that several key suspects had been stopped and released by police after the attack.

A bomb is released from Russian Su-34 strike fighter in Syria on Oct. 9, 2015. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
A bomb is released from Russian Su-34 strike fighter in Syria on Oct. 9, 2015. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP