Two French Rafale fighter jets on Tuesday flew that country’s first surveillance flights over Syria, the first step in France’s push to begin attacks against ISIS. French President Francois Hollande said on Sept. 7 that France would begin military flights over Syria to determine if it would begin air strikes. Hollande said he wants to know “what is being prepared against us and what is being done against the Syrian population,” reported French broadcaster France24. The Defense Department welcomes the news that France has begun its flights over Syria, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told reporters Sept. 8. The French involvement is not directly addressing any shortfalls in the coalition’s ability to combat ISIS, but Cook said any additional activity against the terrorist organization is welcome. “Every little bit helps,” Cook said.
Members of the House Armed Services Committee say the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile program has been set back three months due to the ongoing government shutdown. The comment is noteworthy because the JATM's status has been kept tightly under wraps.
