French involvement in the Syrian Civil War

Greece will receive 18 Rafale jets

The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle has also made repeated trips to Cyprus

Greece recently agreed to obtain 18 Rafale fighter jets

France looks forward to further strengthening its already close relations with Greece, Florence Parly told Kathimerini in an interview shortly after the signing of the agreement for the purchase of 18 Rafale fighters by Greece in Athens.

Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos and French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly signed a contract today for Athens' purchase of 18 Rafale fighter jets.

The addition of the French war planes to the Greek Air Force fleet has been touted as giving the Greek Air Force a strategic boost in its deterrent force at a time of heightened tensions with Turkey.

The Islamic State group remains active in Syria and Iraq despite major territorial losses, necessitating French air support for troops mainly in Iraq, the commander of a French aircraft carrier strike group said Friday.

Europe's largest warship, the French navy flagship Charles De Gaulle, docked at Limassol port once again on Friday, in view of upcoming joint military exercises between the armies of Cyprus and France.

French Rafale fighter jets put the capabilities of the Cyprus army's anti-aircraft umbrella to the test during a joint military exercise on Monday.

The Rafale combat aircraft launched into Cyprus skies from aboard the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, the French navy flagship, and took on the role of attack to test the effectiveness of the Cyprus army's anti-aircraft warfare.

Amid rising tensions in the East Mediterranean, the flagship of the French Navy, aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, remains in Block 8 of Cyprus' exclusive economic zone, bearing a small fleet of Rafale fighter jets, helicopters, other aircraft and drones.

The French Navy's Rear Admiral Marc Aussedat (left), commanding officer of Task Force 473, which has been designated to the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, visited Greece's Spetsai frigate on Tuesday as part of the vessel's participation in the Foch 2020 operation.