France is dispatching the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the Persian Gulf along with its fleet to join coalition efforts to combat ISIS militants in Iraq, reported Yahoo! News via Agence France-Presse. The country is contributing 15 land-based strike aircraft as well as an E-3F AWACS, KC-135FR tanker, and a pair of Atlantique II maritime patrol aircraft, according to the Jan. 6 press report. French aircraft have flown a combined total of some 130 sorties, predominantly focused on providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to coalition forces, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian was quoted as saying. Though US aircraft are currently conducting approximately 60 percent of Operation Inherent Resolve strike sorties, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom are all contributing air assets to the fight in Iraq, while several Arab states are hitting targets alongside the US over Syria.
The Air Force could conduct an operation like Israel's successful air campaign against Iran's nuclear sites, military leadership and air defenses, but readiness issues would make it risky, airpower experts said. Limited spare parts and training, low mission capable rates and few flying hours would put a drag on USAF's…