
France is sending its biggest warship to the Middle East after it pummelled ISIS's Raqqa stronghold in a joint bombing campaign with Russia.

Air strikes in Syria have killed at least 33 ISIS terrorists in three-days of attacks in northern Syria, it has emerged.

The death toll was revealed as France sent the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, from its base in Toulon, southern France, to the Middle East to support the mission.

Dozens of jihadists have also been wounded in bombing raids which targeted weapons depots, barracks and checkpoints in the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa.

Dramatic images of footage of first French and then Russian airstrikes showed rockets hitting multiple targets. The latest Russian footage showed it targeting an ISIS-held oil-processing facility among other buildings.

France intensified strikes on Raqqa following last week's attacks in Paris that left 129 dead, with warplanes carrying out dozens of attacks on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

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Setting sail: France has decided to deploy its aircraft carrier in the eastern Mediterranean sea for fighting ISIS militants

French sailors walk by a Super-Etendard jetfighter on the deck of France's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle as it leaves its home port of Toulon, southern France

Strike: A video grab made available by the Russian Defence Ministry purportedly showing an explosion after airstrikes were carried out by the Russian air force on what the say was an ISIS oil-processing facility at an unidentified location in Syria

Russian allies: A video grab made available today from Russia's Defence Ministry shows an explosion after airstrikes carried out by the air force on what were reportedly tanker trucks carrying oil products belonging to ISIS at an unidentified location in Syria

Bombs away: Russia released this picture from inside a Tupolev Tu-22M3 Backfire long-range strategic bomber dropping bombs during an airstrike on ISIS-held territory in Syria

Attack: French warplanes have bombed operational sites at the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa in Syria for the third consecutive day

French and Russian air strikes in Syria have killed at least 33 ISIS terrorists in three-days of air strikes over northern Syria, it has emerged. Footage shows French jets pounding ISIS targets

France intensified strikes on Raqqa following last week's attacks in Paris that left 129 dead, with warplanes carrying out dozens of raids on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday

Deployment: The French nuclear aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle leaves Toulon military harbour in southern France on its way to the Middle East

Russia also pounded Raqqa with long-range bombers and sea-launched missiles on Tuesday, after Moscow confirmed that a bomb attack brought down a Russian passenger jet over Egypt last month, killing all 224 people on board.

Reports have emerged today that ISIS militants are still stiffening their defences for a possible assault on their de facto capital. Fighters are hiding in civilian neighborhoods, preventing anyone from fleeing, former residents say.

The northern Syrian city's estimated 350,000 people are gripped by fear, rattled by powerful Russian and French bombing raids that shake the city daily.

They are also worried they will be trapped with nowhere to go amid signs of a looming ground invasion by U.S.-allied Kurdish and Arab forces in Syria, according to the former residents who have fled to Turkey and now report on events in Raqqa through acquaintances and activists inside.

Raqqa activists say the militants have been stepping up defenses of the city since late October, after the Democratic Forces launched their campaign vowing to retake the city. Shortly afterward, IS banned people leaving the city and activists said it has stepped up enforcement of the ban in the past few days, leading to fears the group intends to use civilians as human shields in future fighting.

To avoid being hit in their bases, the fighters have moved into residential neighborhoods in empty homes abandoned by people who fled Raqqa earlier, said an activist from Raqqa. He spoke on condition he be identified only by the name he uses in his political activism, Khaled, for security reasons.

'There is major fear in the city, especially with Daesh preventing civilians from leaving the city,' Khaled said, using the Arabic acronym for the group.

France's defense minister says French fighter jets have carried out a series of airstrikes on ISIS targeting command units, training camps and weapons depots

France have launched a three-day bombging campaign hitting jihadists who claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks, Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian said

The Egyptian plane crash and the weekend wave of terrorist attacks in Paris have raised Russia's determination to fight ISIS. Pictured is a French airstrike over Syria yesterday

Portsmouth based HMS Defender, which has been carrying out exercises with the French Air Force in the Gulf, has just arrived on tasking in the region and will work with the French and US Navies amongst other partners

Two fighter jets fly past the Portsmouth based HMS Defender which has been carrying out exercises with the French Air Force

Khaled, who now lives in Turkey, is in touch with people back in Raqqa. Raqqa residents could not be reached because of an IS ban on private Internet access across the city.

Among new measures that have been put in place by ISIS, according to several of the activists, is an order that IS fighters move only in alleys and side streets to avoid detection from the air and not use vehicles at night.

Those measures have intensified after a series of successful hits by the coalition that killed a number of IS leaders, including Jihadi John who appeared in several videos depicting the beheadings of U.S. and Western hostages.

On the roads leading into Raqqa, the extremists have dug extensive tunnels and trenches, said another activist from Raqqa, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of IS retaliation. More recently, the militants placed tires filled with fuel on empty barrels around the city, with plans to ignite them in case of an attack to cloud the skies with smoke.

BRITISH FIGHTER JETS SPOTTED TAKING OFF FROM UK AIRBASE AS MILITARY ACTIVITY INCREASES British Tornado jets were spotted taking off from RAF Marham in Norfolk today as UK military activity increases in preparation for possible air strikes in Syria. A greater number of jets than usual were seen flying in and out of the military base this morning as activity steps up, following the Paris attacks last Friday. Military police were also spotted patrolling the base and there was a security alert after a black car was seen parked nearby without any number plates. British Tornado fighters have been involved in airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq for the past year. Now more jets are believed to be flying out to the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus to get ready for strikes against jihadist extremists in Syria if Parliament gives the go-ahead. One plane spotter said: 'Some days I stand here and see nothing, but I’ve seen six jets take off and land in the last half hour. There is definitely an increase in activity here today compared to last week.' Cameron said yesterday the Paris attacks had strengthened the case for air strikes in Syria and suggested there could be a fresh vote in the Commons on the issue. Two years ago MPs rejected strikes against Syrian government forces, but last year Parliament approved British participation in strikes against Islamic extremists in Iraq. Advertisement

The attacks on Raqqa since the Paris attacks include:

November 14 - Russian airstrikes that activists say struck central Raqqa near the Grand Mosque and the museum building that killed up to 13 civilians in addition to a number of IS militants.

November 15 - France's Defense Ministry said 12 aircraft dropped a total of 20 bombs Sunday night in the biggest air strikes since France extended its bombing campaign against the extremist group to Syria in September.

November 16-17 - French jets bombed a jihadi training camp and munitions dump in Raqqa.

November 17 - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russian bombers hit Islamic State positions in Raqqa and Deir el-Zour, to the southeast. Russian warplanes also fired cruise missiles on militant positions in Syria's Idlib and Aleppo provinces. French warplanes also carried out new strikes in the evening.

Abdel Rahman, director of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said of the the 'limited number' of ISIS deaths from the three-day bombing campaign 'can be explained by the fact that the jihadists had taken precautions'.

He added: 'There were only guards around the depots and barracks and most of those killed were at the checkpoints.'

Pictures show the inside the cockpit of Tupolev-160, a strategic supersonic missile carrier plane on its way to Syria for its first ever combat mission

Russia said that more than 30 missiles were due to be fired aimed at taking out 14 ISIS fighting positions in a matter of hours.

He said many families of foreign fighters had also left the city for Mosul in Iraq, another stronghold of IS, which has seized control of large parts of Syria and Iraq.

As part of its own bombing campaign, Russia is reported to have deployed its Tupolev-160 bombers for their first ever combat mission, Russian media has reported.

The supersonic war plane can carry up to 12 missiles, it has been reported, and fly at up to 2,000km per hour.

TV Zvezsa reported that Tupolev-95 and Tupolev-160 planes took off from Engels air force base in the Saratov region of Russia.

More than 30 missiles were due to be fired aimed at taking out 14 ISIS fighting positions in a matter of hours.

The strategic missile carrier planes were in the air for 9 hours 30 minutes and they flew 6500 km away, it was reported.

'The planes are working in groups, while one plane is attacking, the second one is covering it. The usage of this air force was agreed with the countries-allies,' the network said.

'The planes are taking off from Mozdok base in pairs and follow each other at several hundreds of meters distance. Six night flights and six day time flights were aimed at the ISIS targets in Raqqa and Deir-ez-Zor regions of Syria. All Tupovel-22 planes successfully returned to the base in Mozdok and are ready for new combat missions.'

Yesterday Vladimir Putin ordered his warships to co-operate with the French military as both countries launched revenge attacks on ISIS targets in Syria.

Missiles are loaded onto a French fighter jet, before it heads to Syria to attack ISIS targets. Russian forces carried out 34 cruise missile strikes over Raqqa, which is seen as Islamic State's capital city, Idlib and Aleppo

Charles de Gaulle, the flagship of the French Navy and the largest western European warship currently in commission, is seen anchored in the military port of Toulon

The Charles de Gaulle, carrying French fighter jets, before leaving on mission in Mediterranean Sea to take part in operations on Syria

The strikes come after it was revealed French jets had pounded targets in the terrorists' Syrian stronghold, including a command centre and a recruitment base for jihadists.

The Russian President said he wants his missile cruiser Moskva, which is in the Mediterranean Sea, to work with France's military, who were carrying out more airstrikes over Syria last night after ISIS claimed responsibility for the Paris terror attacks.

The Egyptian plane crash and the weekend wave of terrorist attacks in Paris have raised Russia's determination to fight ISIS, although concern remains in the West that its Syria airstrikes are also targeting rebels who are opposed to Syrian President Bashar Assad but not affiliated with radical groups.

Putin said a French aircraft carrier task force is to approach the Moskva soon and the cruiser is to 'cooperate with them as with allies'.

Russian forces yesterday carried out 34 cruise missile strikes over Raqqa, which is seen as Islamic State's capital city, Idlib and Aleppo. They also deployed long-range Tu-160, Tu-95 and Tu-22 bombers from Russian bases.

The terror group has positions in Aleppo province and Idlib has the presence of the Nusra Front militant group.

Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu last night confirmed that Russian bombers hit ISIS positions in Raqqa and Deir al-Zour.

Shoigu said the cruise missiles that hit the Aleppo and Idlib positions were fired from supersonic Tu-160 bombers and from Tu-95s, long-distance turboprop strategic bombers that started from Russian territory.

The strikes come after it was revealed French jets had pounded targets in the terrorists' Syrian stronghold, including a command centre and a recruitment base for jihadists

Russia has hit the ISIS 'capital' Raqqa with cruise missiles - just hours after saying the passenger jet brought down in Egypt had been bombed

Footage taken from the Russian Defence Ministry shows a Tu-95 bomber launching a cruise missile over Syria

As Russia's campaign in Syria intensifies, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticised the United States for pursuing what he said was a contradictory and confusing policy in Syria.

In remarks in a Russian TV documentary, Lavrov said that analysis of U.S. attacks on Islamic State militants in Syria over the past year indicates that the attacks are sparing the ISIS units that would pose the most threat to the Syrian army and Assad.

The U.S. wants to see Assad removed from power, but Lavrov said this means that Washington is effectively 'sitting on two chairs'.

American military generals are also criticizing the country, saying the US has been slow to act and is holding back.

BRITAIN MAY NEED TO CARRY ON BOMBING ISIS IN SYRIA 'FOR YEARS TO COME', WARNS THINK TANK Britain may need to carry on air strikes against ISIS for years to come - even if there is little prospect of delivering a knockout blow - a military think tank has warned. A report by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) said that without a wider political settlement in Syria, the UK could have to sustain its military campaign against the extremists 'over a period of several years'. Even then, the report said, it is possible - 'perhaps even likely' - that the operation will end without having achieved a 'decisive strategic effect'. David Cameron has signalled his renewed determination to seek Commons support for extending RAF air strikes against ISIS - currently restricted to Iraq - into Syria in the wake of the Paris terror attacks. The report, by Professor Malcolm Chalmers, said it would be seen as an 'important demonstration of solidarity with France' at a time when Britain's reputation as a reliable military partner was being undermined by the continued 'parliamentary manoeuvring' over air strikes. David Cameron (pictured) has signalled his renewed determination to seek Commons support for extending RAF air strikes against ISIS - currently restricted to Iraq - into Syria in the wake of the Paris terror attacks But while the case for joining the air strikes in Syria was now stronger than when the US-led coalition against IS was formed in 2014, it warned that the Government needed to be careful not to overstate their likely impact. Although they had contributed to 'second order objectives', such as protecting the Kurds in northern Syria, the report said that - given Britain's limited resources compared with the US - the addition of RAF war planes to the effort would not be 'strategically transformative'. 'In the absence of a wider political settlement in Syria, the UK's military campaign may need to be sustained over a period of several years,' the report said. 'In these circumstances, it is possible - perhaps even likely - that the operation could end without achieving a decisive strategic effect.' The report said that it would be difficult to commit a higher level of air power to the conflict without eroding the RAF's ability to respond to other crises. While the UK retained a 'degree of influence' in the region, it said that politicians should not be under any illusion that Britain could be a central player in the diplomatic efforts to resolve the Syria crisis. 'The relatively limited nature of the UK role adds weight to the argument that it will be important to ensure that it does not over-commit resources to a protracted military campaign whose strategic objectives it has little ability to influence,' it said. Advertisement

'Our air campaign in Syria and Iraq has never been what it should be,' former US Army vice chief of staff Gen. Jack Keane told Fox News.

Keane criticized the US 'rules of engagements', which he claimed has let enemies escape because it takes too long to get approval for targets under the restrictions.

The currently imposed rules of engagements, which provide authorization and restrictions on the military's use of force, are no civilian deaths and to limit collateral damage, according to retired Lt. Col. Ralph Peters, who called them 'unrealistic'.

'Obama believes in this illusion that you can somehow wage clean war,' he said. 'But you can't have a standard of no civilian casualties and expect to win like that. It never has and it never will.'

France's defense minister says 10 French fighter jets are carrying out new airstrikes on Islamic State group targets in Syria

A French fighter jet prepares to take-off as part of military operations targeting ISIS in Syria. A video was released showing the attacks

A Russian military jet dropping a bomb over Syria. Russia said that it had stepped up air strikes against Islamist militants

Russian Tu-22 bombers escorted by the Su-27s fighter jets drop bombs on a target in Syria. Russia are also reportedly transporting paramilitary forces across Syria

Keane claims that ISIS is aware of the US rules of engagement and thus can't be found 'out in the middle of the desert totally exposed'.

'Every function and critical node they have is tucked in some place within the population,' he said.

President Obama has fought back against critics and said his strategy, which avoids sending ground forces to Syria or Iraq, is going to work but - 'it's going to take time'.

The US has launched 8,253 airstrikes against ISIS targets as of Tuesday, carrying out 95 percent of the airstrikes in Syria since the coalition air campaign against ISIS began last summer, according to the Pentagon.

On Monday US warplanes took out 100 tanker trucks ISIS uses to transport oil and earn millions every month and on Tuesday another 17 airstrikes were conducted by an American-led coalition, according to the Pentagon.

Meanwhile, France's defense minister says 10 French fighter jets are carrying out new airstrikes on Islamic State group targets in Syria.

Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the jets have carried out new raids. Speaking on TF1 TV, he said France will have 36 fighter jets in the region capable of carrying out airstrikes on IS targets once the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier reaches the zone.

Russia are also reportedly transporting paramilitary forces across Syria. Personnel and helicopters operating are operating inside the country to support, according to the Twitter account of Assyrian Christian militia, known as the Gozarto Protection Force (GPF).

The GPF are based in the western province of Homs are fighting to defend the predominantly Christian town of Sadad. They claim that the Russian military have flown in to join their fight against ISIS in the town.

A Russian Tu-160 bomber launches a cruise missile at a target in Syria. Russia's defense minister said its warplanes have fired cruise missiles on militant positions in Syria's Idlib and Aleppo provinces

Russian pilots in the cockpit of a long-range warplane in flight. Russian Tu-160, Tu-95MS, Tu-22 M3 long-range aviation warplanes based in Russian territory carried out airstrikes against what Russia says were Islamic State targets in Syria

Footage taken from the Russian Defense Ministry yesterday shows a Russian Su-24M during a Russian air raid in Syria

Putin vowed to 'punish' those responsible for bringing down a Russian jet over the Sinai desert last month, after he confirmed that a bomb was responsible for the crash

Russian air force technicians preparing a warplane for a mission in Syria. Russian Tu-160, Tu-95MS, Tu-22 M3 long-range aviation warplanes based in Russian territory carried out airstrikes against what Russia says were Islamic State targets in Syria

Putin had vowed to 'punish' those responsible for bringing down aRussian jet over the Sinai desert last month, after he confirmed that a bomb was responsible for the crash.

The Russian president claimed that the jet was blown up by a home-made bomb containing 1.5kg of explosives, resulting in the loss of 224 lives.

Shortly after Mr Putin's announcement, Egyptian authorities arrested two airport employees accused of helping ISIS to smuggle the device onto the aircraft.

The Airbus A321 disappeared 23 minutes after leaving Sharm el-Sheikh airport en-route to St Petersburg.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack on the Metrojet aircraft which crashed on October 31.

French jets have pounded targets in the terrorists' Syrian stronghold, including a command centre and a recruitment base for jihadists

French soldiers prepare a Rafale fighter jet at a military base at an undisclosed location in the Gulf yesterday

A Russian Tupolev Tu-160 long-range bomber landing on the tarmac at the Hmeymim air base near Latakia, Syria

A $50 million reward has been offered for information leading to the capture of the terror cell responsible for the atrocity.

Alexander Bortnikov, head of the FSB security agency told Russian President Vladimir Putin: 'One can say unambiguously that it was a terror act.

'An improvised bomb with a capacity of up to 1.5 kg of TNT exploded on the fight.

'As a result, the aircraft was torn apart in the air, which explains the large distance over which the pieces of the fuselage of the aircraft have scattered.'

Russia are also reportedly transporting paramilitary forces across Syria. Personnel and helicopters operating are operating inside the country to support, according to the Twitter account of Assyrian Christian militia, known as the Gozarto Protection Force (GPF)

Vladimir Putin vowed to 'punish' those responsible for bringing down a Russian jet over the Sinai desert last month, after he confirmed that a bomb was responsible for the crash

Russian state security services have admitted that a bomb brought down a Metrojet aircraft over Egypt

Russian technical experts said that the aircraft was destroyed by a homemade 1.5kg bomb

President Putin has vowed to avenge the perpetrators: 'It's not the first time Russia faces barbaric terrorist crimes. Killing our people at Sinai is among the most bloody crimes judging by the number of victims.

'And we won't wipe our tears away from our hearts and souls. It will remain with us forever. But it won't stop us from finding and punishing the criminals.'

He vowed: 'We must do it without time limitation. We must know each name. We will search for them everywhere, wherever they will hide. We will find them in any part of planet and punish them.'

'There is no statute of limitation on this. The combat work of our aviation in Syria must not only be continued. It must be intensified so that the criminals understand that vengeance is inevitable.'

Russia has now launched a 'significant' number of strikes which are reported to have included long-range bombers and sea-launched cruise missile (file picture of Russian cruiser)

French President Francois Hollande called for a global coalition to destroy ISIS following the attacks in Paris, and hours later French fighter jets launched fresh strikes on targets in Syria (Pictured: French fighter jets)

One of the ten French fighter jets prepares to take off from an airbase in the United Arab Emirates

It came after French President Francois Hollande yesterday called on the United States and Russia to join a global coalition to destroy ISIS following the attacks in Paris, and hours later French fighter jets launched fresh strikes on targets in Syria.

A spokesman for France's military command said the strike, conducted overnight, included 10 fighter jets, which were launched from the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

The airstrikes comes just a day after French jets launched a series of 'massive' raids on ISIS in Syria as the country started its 'pitiless' retribution for the terror attacks on Paris.

That blitz was conducted by ten fighter planes which dropped 20 bombs on the terror group's capital of Raqqa, destroying a key command centre, training camp and munitions dump, throwing the city into panic.

The bombardment came just two days after President Francois Hollande said the co-ordinated attacks in Paris that killed up to 129 people was an 'act of war' and vowed to strike ISIS in Syria 'without mercy'.

In France, police carried out around 150 co-ordinated anti-terrorism raids across the country yesterday morning, arresting dozens of suspects and seizing a cache of weapons including a rocket launcher.

French fighter jets have carried out another 'massive' air strike on Raqqa, targeting an ISIS command centre

The bombardment came just two days after President Francois Hollande said the co-ordinated attacks in Paris that killed up to 129 people was an 'act of war' and vowed to strike ISIS in Syria 'without mercy'

A huge manhunt is also underway for accomplices of the Islamist cell including one of the bomb plotters who is still on the run after police let him go in a string of incredible security blunders before and after the atrocity on Friday night.

A French official has also identified the suspected mastermind of the Paris attacks as Belgian Abdelhamid Abaaoud.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, meanwhile, has warned that authorities believe new terror attacks are being planned in France and in other European countries following the carnage.

Yesterday Hollande told a joint session of parliament at the Palace of Versailles 'France is at war', before promising to increase funds for national security and strengthen anti-terrorism laws in response to the suicide bombings and shootings that killed 129.

'We're not engaged in a war of civilisations, because these assassins do not represent any. We are in a war against jihadist terrorism which is threatening the whole world,' he told a packed, sombre chamber.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for Friday's coordinated attacks, saying they were in retaliation for France's involvement in US-backed air strikes in Iraq and Syria.