France on Friday was believed to have launched airstrikes from its aircraft carrier against the Islamic State group have surfaced, BBC reported. According to an AFP report, several Rafale fighter jets took off from Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier in an operation "to attack Islamic State-controlled Mosul".

France had deployed its only aircraft carrier to the region in September, in a bid to counter the extremist group's activities. French radio station RTL reported the forces will conduct a sortie every three minutes. A total of 24 aircraft equipped with four 250kg laser-guided bombs each are believed to be part of the operation.

The airstrikes are the aircraft carrier's third collaboration with the US-led coalition in Iraq and Syria since February 2015. France intensified its military activities in the region after the Paris attacks in November 2015, which left 134 people dead.