File image.
On December 29, activists shared footage showing a French Airbus H225M military helicopter flying over Syria’s northeastern region.
The helicopter was spotted near the town of al-Shheell in the southeastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. At the time, Syrian Democratic Forces units in the town were placed on high alert, possibly in preparation for a joint counter-terrorism operation with the US-led coalition. France is a key member of the coalition.
فيديو مصور لــتحليق الطيران المروحي التابع للتحالف الدولي على علو منخفض فوق مدينة الشحيل شرقي ديرالزور.#صدى_الشرقية#ديرالزور @Liveuamap pic.twitter.com/ptKc0xChqb
— Sada AlSharqieh (@Sada_AlSharqieh) December 29, 2021
At least 18 H225M helicopters are in service with both the French Air Force and Army, which are apparently still active in northeastern Syria.
The H225M is a long-range tactical transport military helicopter capable of undertaking various mission roles including combat search and rescue, aeromedical transport, logistic support and shipboard maritime operations.
The French military had several posts in northeastern Syria, mainly in northeastern Aleppo and northern Raqqa. However, in October of 2019 a Turkish-led invasion of the region forced French and American troops to leave these areas. The Russian Military Police and the Syrian Arab Army took over.
Earlier this year, a French H225M helicopter was spotted while transporting special forces personnel or intelligence officers from Iraq to northeastern Syria.
Shoot the invaders down.
In my opinion, the French are needed though. And Alawites decades ago wanted the French to remain in order to protect them from radical Sunnis.
The French are needed like a hole in the head.
Says the Cromwell…
What a spoil of my working money. Please leave and tax less my work !
Froggy go home.