France Turns The Screw: Dramatic Footage Shows Joint Airstrikes with Russia Targeting Raqqa Training Centres, Checkpoints and Weapons Depots as Bombs Kill 33+ ISIS Militants in Three Days
- Dramatic footage emerges of French bombers launching a series of raids on ISIS command units in Raqqa, Syria
- There are reports that at least 33 ISIS terrorists have been killed during a 72-hour campaign of air strikes on the city
- Russia yesterday launched cruise missile strikes over Raqqa, which is seen as the ISIS capital city in Syria
- Russian president Vladimir Putin has ordered his warships to work with France as 'allies' in their fight
- Their forces carried out 34 cruise missile strikes over Raqqa, Idlib and Aleppo just days after the Paris terror attacks
- Russia are also reportedly transporting paramilitary forces across Syria to fight ISIS in the Christian town of Sadad
Daily Mail UK, 18 November 2015
French and Russian air strikes in Syria have killed at least 33 ISIS terrorists in three-days of air strikes over northern Syria, it has emerged.
Dozens more jihadists have been wounded in the raids which targeted weapons depots, barracks and checkpoints in the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa.
Dramatic new footage of the French airstrikes shows rockets slamming into buildings below during a 72-hour bombing campaign.
France intensified strikes on Raqqa following last week's attacks in Paris that left 129 dead, with warplanes carrying out dozens of attacks on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
Russia also pounded Raqqa with long-range bombers and sea-launched missiles on Tuesday, after Moscow confirmed that a bomb attack brought down a Russian passenger jet over Egypt last month, killing all 224 people on board.
Reports have emerged today that ISIS militants are stiffening their defences for a possible assault on their de facto capital. Fighters are hiding in civilian neighborhoods, preventing anyone from fleeing, former residents say.
Attack: French warplanes have bombed operational sites at the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa in Syria for the third consecutive day
French and Russian air strikes in Syria have killed at least 33 ISIS terrorists in three-days of air strikes over northern Syria, it has emerged. Footage shows French jets pounding ISIS targets
France intensified strikes on Raqqa following last week's attacks in Paris that left 129 dead, with warplanes carrying out dozens of raids on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
Deployment: The French nuclear aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle leaves Toulon military harbour in southern France on its way to the Middle East
Setting sail: France has decided to deploy its aircraft carrier in the eastern Mediterranean sea for fighting ISIS militants
The northern Syrian city's estimated 350,000 people are gripped by fear, rattled by powerful Russian and French bombing raids that shake the city daily.
They are also worried they will be trapped with nowhere to go amid signs of a looming ground invasion by U.S.-allied Kurdish and Arab forces in Syria, according to the former residents who have fled to Turkey and now report on events in Raqqa through acquaintances and activists inside.
Raqqa activists say the militants have been stepping up defenses of the city since late October, after the Democratic Forces launched their campaign vowing to retake the city. Shortly afterward, IS banned people leaving the city and activists said it has stepped up enforcement of the ban in the past few days, leading to fears the group intends to use civilians as human shields in future fighting.
To avoid being hit in their bases, the fighters have moved into residential neighboUrhoods in empty homes abandoned by people who fled Raqqa earlier, said an activist from Raqqa. He spoke on condition he be identified only by the name he uses in his political activism, Khaled, for security reasons.
'There is major fear in the city, especially with Daesh preventing civilians from leaving the city,' Khaled said, using the Arabic acronym for the group.
France's defense minister says French fighter jets have carried out a series of airstrikes on ISIS targeting command units, training camps and weapons depots
France have launched a three-day bombging campaign hitting jihadists who claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks, Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian said
The Egyptian plane crash and the weekend wave of terrorist attacks in Paris have raised Russia's determination to fight ISIS. Pictured is a French airstrike over Syria yesterday
Portsmouth based HMS Defender, which has been carrying out exercises with the French Air Force in the Gulf, has just arrived on tasking in the region and will work with the French and US Navies amongst other partners
Two fighter jets fly past the Portsmouth based HMS Defender which has been carrying out exercises with the French Air Force
Khaled, who now lives in Turkey, is in touch with people back in Raqqa. Raqqa residents could not be reached because of an IS ban on private Internet access across the city.
Among new measures that have been put in place by ISIS, according to several of the activists, is an order that IS fighters move only in alleys and side streets to avoid detection from the air and not use vehicles at night.
Those measures have intensified after a series of successful hits by the coalition that killed a number of IS leaders, including Jihadi John who appeared in several videos depicting the beheadings of U.S. and Western hostages.
On the roads leading into Raqqa, the extremists have dug extensive tunnels and trenches, said another activist from Raqqa, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of IS retaliation.
More recently, the militants placed tires filled with fuel on empty barrels around the city, with plans to ignite them in case of an attack to cloud the skies with smoke.
The attacks on Raqqa since the Paris attacks include:
- November 14 - Russian airstrikes that activists say struck central Raqqa near the Grand Mosque and the museum building that killed up to 13 civilians in addition to a number of IS militants.
- November 15 - France's Defense Ministry said 12 aircraft dropped a total of 20 bombs Sunday night in the biggest air strikes since France extended its bombing campaign against the extremist group to Syria in September.
- November 16-17 - French jets bombed a jihadi training camp and munitions dump in Raqqa.
- November 17 - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russian bombers hit Islamic State positions in Raqqa and Deir el-Zour, to the southeast. Russian warplanes also fired cruise missiles on militant positions in Syria's Idlib and Aleppo provinces. French warplanes also carried out new strikes in the evening.
Abdel Rahman, director of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said of the the 'limited number' of ISIS deaths from the three-day bombing campaign 'can be explained by the fact that the jihadists had taken precautions'.
He added: 'There were only guards around the depots and barracks and most of those killed were at the checkpoints.'
Pictures show the inside the ****pit of Tupolev-160, a strategic supersonic missile carrier plane on its way to Syria for its first ever combat mission
Russia said that more than 30 missiles were due to be fired aimed at taking out 14 ISIS fighting positions in a matter of hours.
He said many families of foreign fighters had also left the city for Mosul in Iraq, another stronghold of IS, which has seized control of large parts of Syria and Iraq.
As part of its own bombing campaign, Russia is reported to have deployed its Tupolev-160 bombers for their first ever combat mission, Russian media has reported.
The supersonic war plane can carry up to 12 missiles, it has been reported, and fly at up to 2,000km per hour.
TV Zvezsa reported that Tupolev-95 and Tupolev-160 planes took off from Engels air force base in the Saratov region of Russia.
More than 30 missiles were due to be fired aimed at taking out 14 ISIS fighting positions in a matter of hours.
The strategic missile carrier planes were in the air for 9 hours 30 minutes and they flew 6500 km away, it was reported.
'The planes are working in groups, while one plane is attacking, the second one is covering it. The usage of this air force was agreed with the countries-allies,' the network said.
'The planes are taking off from Mozdok base in pairs and follow each other at several hundreds of meters distance. Six night flights and six day time flights were aimed at the ISIS targets in Raqqa and Deir-ez-Zor regions of Syria. All Tupovel-22 planes successfully returned to the base in Mozdok and are ready for new combat missions.'
Yesterday Putin ordered his warships to co-operate with the French military as both countries launched revenge attacks on ISIS targets in Syria.
Missiles are loaded onto a French fighter jet, before it heads to Syria to attack ISIS targets. Russian forces carried out 34 cruise missile strikes over Raqqa, which is seen as Islamic State's capital city, Idlib and Aleppo
Charles de Gaulle, the flagship of the French Navy and the largest western European warship currently in commission, is seen anchored in the military port of Toulon
The Charles de Gaulle, carrying French fighter jets, before leaving on mission in Mediterranean Sea to take part in operations on Syria
The strikes come after it was revealed French jets had pounded targets in the terrorists' Syrian stronghold, including a command centre and a recruitment base for jihadists.
The Russian President said he wants his missile cruiser Moskva, which is in the Mediterranean Sea, to work with France's military, who were carrying out more airstrikes over Syria last night after ISIS claimed responsibility for the Paris terror attacks.
The Egyptian plane crash and the weekend wave of terrorist attacks in Paris have raised Russia's determination to fight ISIS, although concern remains in the West that its Syria airstrikes are also targeting rebels who are opposed to Syrian President Bashar Assad but not affiliated with radical groups.
Putin said a French aircraft carrier task force is to approach the Moskva soon and the cruiser is to 'cooperate with them as with allies'.
Russian forces yesterday carried out 34 cruise missile strikes over Raqqa, which is seen as Islamic State's capital city, Idlib and Aleppo. They also deployed long-range Tu-160, Tu-95 and Tu-22 bombers from Russian bases.
The terror group has positions in Aleppo province and Idlib has the presence of the Nusra Front militant group.
Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu last night confirmed that Russian bombers hit ISIS positions in Raqqa and Deir al-Zour.
Shoigu said the cruise missiles that hit the Aleppo and Idlib positions were fired from supersonic Tu-160 bombers and from Tu-95s, long-distance turboprop strategic bombers that started from Russian territory.
The strikes come after it was revealed French jets had pounded targets in the terrorists' Syrian stronghold, including a command centre and a recruitment base for jihadists
Russia has hit the ISIS 'capital' Raqqa with cruise missiles - just hours after saying the passenger jet brought down in Egypt had been bombed
Footage taken from the Russian Defence Ministry shows a Tu-95 bomber launching a cruise missile over Syria
As Russia's campaign in Syria intensifies, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticised the United States for pursuing what he said was a contradictory and confusing policy in Syria.
In remarks in a Russian TV documentary, Lavrov said that analysis of U.S. attacks on Islamic State militants in Syria over the past year indicates that the attacks are sparing the ISIS units that would pose the most threat to the Syrian army and Assad.
The U.S. wants to see Assad removed from power, but Lavrov said this means that Washington is effectively 'sitting on two chairs'.
American military generals are also criticizing the country, saying the US has been slow to act and is holding back.
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BRITAIN MAY NEED TO CARRY ON BOMBING ISIS IN SYRIA 'FOR YEARS TO COME', WARNS THINK TANK
Britain may need to carry on air strikes against ISIS for years to come - even if there is little prospect of delivering a knockout blow - a military think tank has warned.
A report by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) said that without a wider political settlement in Syria, the UK could have to sustain its military campaign against the extremists 'over a period of several years'.
Even then, the report said, it is possible - 'perhaps even likely' - that the operation will end without having achieved a 'decisive strategic effect'.
David Cameron has signalled his renewed determination to seek Commons support for extending RAF air strikes against ISIS - currently restricted to Iraq - into Syria in the wake of the Paris terror attacks.
The report, by Professor Malcolm Chalmers, said it would be seen as an 'important demonstration of solidarity with France' at a time when Britain's reputation as a reliable military partner was being undermined by the continued 'parliamentary manoeuvring' over air strikes.
David Cameron (pictured) has signalled his renewed determination to seek Commons support for extending RAF air strikes against ISIS - currently restricted to Iraq - into Syria in the wake of the Paris terror attacks
But while the case for joining the air strikes in Syria was now stronger than when the US-led coalition against IS was formed in 2014, it warned that the Government needed to be careful not to overstate their likely impact.
Although they had contributed to 'second order objectives', such as protecting the Kurds in northern Syria, the report said that - given Britain's limited resources compared with the US - the addition of RAF war planes to the effort would not be 'strategically transformative'.
'In the absence of a wider political settlement in Syria, the UK's military campaign may need to be sustained over a period of several years,' the report said.
'In these circumstances, it is possible - perhaps even likely - that the operation could end without achieving a decisive strategic effect.'
The report said that it would be difficult to commit a higher level of air power to the conflict without eroding the RAF's ability to respond to other crises.
While the UK retained a 'degree of influence' in the region, it said that politicians should not be under any illusion that Britain could be a central player in the diplomatic efforts to resolve the Syria crisis.
'The relatively limited nature of the UK role adds weight to the argument that it will be important to ensure that it does not over-commit resources to a protracted military campaign whose strategic objectives it has little ability to influence,' it said.
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'Our air campaign in Syria and Iraq has never been what it should be,' former US Army vice chief of staff Gen. Jack Keane said
Keane criticized the US 'rules of engagements',
which he claimed has let enemies escape because it takes too long to get approval for targets under the restrictions.
The currently imposed rules of engagements, which provide authorization and restrictions on the military's use of force, are no civilian deaths and to limit collateral damage, according to retired Lt. Col. Ralph Peters, who called them 'unrealistic'.
'Obama believes in this illusion that you can somehow wage clean war,' he said. 'But you can't have a standard of no civilian casualties and expect to win like that. It never has and it never will.'
France's defense minister says 10 French fighter jets are carrying out new airstrikes on Islamic State group targets in Syria
A French fighter jet prepares to take-off as part of military operations targeting ISIS in Syria. A video was released showing the attacks
A Russian military jet dropping a bomb over Syria. Russia said that it had stepped up air strikes against Islamist militants
Russian Tu-22 bombers escorted by the Su-27s fighter jets drop bombs on a target in Syria. Russia are also reportedly transporting paramilitary forces across Syria
Keane claims that ISIS is aware of the US rules of engagement and thus can't be found 'out in the middle of the desert totally exposed'.
'Every function and critical node they have is tucked in some place within the population,' he said.
President Obama has fought back against critics and said his strategy, which avoids sending ground forces to Syria or Iraq, is going to work but - 'it's going to take time'.
The US has launched 8,253 airstrikes against ISIS targets as of Tuesday, carrying out 95 percent of the airstrikes in Syria since the coalition air campaign against ISIS began last summer, according to the Pentagon.
On Monday US warplanes took out 100 tanker trucks ISIS uses to transport oil and earn millions every month and on Tuesday another 17 airstrikes were conducted by an American-led coalition, according to the Pentagon.
Meanwhile, France's defense minister says 10 French fighter jets are carrying out new airstrikes on Islamic State group targets in Syria.
Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the jets have carried out new raids. Speaking on TF1 TV, he said France will have 36 fighter jets in the region capable of carrying out airstrikes on IS targets once the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier reaches the zone.
Russia are also reportedly transporting paramilitary forces across Syria. Personnel and helicopters operating are operating inside the country to support, according to the Twitter account of Assyrian Christian militia, known as the Gozarto Protection Force (GPF).
The GPF are based in the western province of Homs are fighting to defend the predominantly Christian town of Sadad. They claim that the Russian military have flown in to join their fight against ISIS in the town.
A Russian Tu-160 bomber launches a cruise missile at a target in Syria. Russia's defense minister said its warplanes have fired cruise missiles on militant positions in Syria's Idlib and Aleppo provinces
Russian pilots in the ****pit of a long-range warplane in flight. Russian Tu-160, Tu-95MS, Tu-22 M3 long-range aviation warplanes based in Russian territory carried out airstrikes against what Russia says were Islamic State targets in Syria
Footage taken from the Russian Defense Ministry yesterday shows a Russian Su-24M during a Russian air raid in Syria
Putin vowed to 'punish' those responsible for bringing down a Russian jet over the Sinai desert last month, after he confirmed that a bomb was responsible for the crash
Russian air force technicians preparing a warplane for a mission in Syria. Russian Tu-160, Tu-95MS, Tu-22 M3 long-range aviation warplanes based in Russian territory carried out airstrikes against what Russia says were Islamic State targets in Syria
Putin had vowed to 'punish' those responsible for bringing down a jet over the Sinai desert last month, after he confirmed that a bomb was responsible for the crash.
The Russian president claimed that the jet was blown up by a home-made bomb containing 1.5kg of explosives, resulting in the loss of 224 lives.
Shortly after Mr Putin's announcement, Egyptian authorities arrested two airport employees accused of helping ISIS to smuggle the device onto the aircraft.
The Airbus A321 disappeared 23 minutes after leaving Sharm el-Sheikh airport en-route to St Petersburg.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack on the Metrojet aircraft which crashed on October 31.
French jets have pounded targets in the terrorists' Syrian stronghold, including a command centre and a recruitment base for jihadists
French soldiers prepare a Rafale fighter jet at a military base at an undisclosed location in the Gulf yesterday
A Russian Tupolev Tu-160 long-range bomber landing on the tarmac at the Hmeymim air base near Latakia, Syria
A $50 million reward has been offered for information leading to the capture of the terror cell responsible for the atrocity.
Alexander Bortnikov, head of the FSB security agency told Russian President Vladimir Putin: 'One can say unambiguously that it was a terror act.
'An improvised bomb with a capacity of up to 1.5 kg of TNT exploded on the fight.
'As a result, the aircraft was torn apart in the air, which explains the large distance over which the pieces of the fuselage of the aircraft have scattered.'
Russia are also reportedly transporting paramilitary forces across Syria. Personnel and helicopters operating are operating inside the country to support, according to the Twitter account of Assyrian Christian militia, known as the Gozarto Protection Force (GPF)
Vladimir Putin vowed to 'punish' those responsible for bringing down a Russian jet over the Sinai desert last month, after he confirmed that a bomb was responsible for the crash
Russian state security services have admitted that a bomb brought down a Metrojet aircraft over Egypt
Russian technical experts said that the aircraft was destroyed by a homemade 1.5kg bomb
President Putin has vowed to avenge the perpetrators:
'It's not the first time Russia faces barbaric terrorist crimes. Killing our people at Sinai is among the most bloody crimes judging by the number of victims.
'And we won't wipe our tears away from our hearts and souls. It will remain with us forever. But it won't stop us from finding and punishing the criminals.'
He vowed: 'We must do it without time limitation. We must know each name. We will search for them everywhere, wherever they will hide. We will find them in any part of planet and punish them.'
'There is no statute of limitation on this. The combat work of our aviation in Syria must not only be continued. It must be intensified so that the criminals understand that vengeance is inevitable.'
Russia has now launched a 'significant' number of strikes which are reported to have included long-range bombers and sea-launched cruise missile (file picture of Russian cruiser)
French President Francois Hollande called for a global coalition to destroy ISIS following the attacks in Paris, and hours later French fighter jets launched fresh strikes on targets in Syria (Pictured: French fighter jets)
One of the ten French fighter jets prepares to take off from an airbase in the United Arab Emirates
It came after French President Francois Hollande yesterday called on the United States and Russia to join a global coalition to destroy ISIS following the attacks in Paris, and hours later French fighter jets launched fresh strikes on targets in Syria.
A spokesman for France's military command said the strike, conducted overnight, included 10 fighter jets, which were launched from the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. The airstrikes comes just a day after French jets launched a series of 'massive' raids on ISIS in Syria as the country started its 'pitiless' retribution for the terror attacks on Paris.
That blitz was conducted by ten fighter planes which dropped 20 bombs on the terror group's capital of Raqqa, destroying a key command centre, training camp and munitions dump, throwing the city into panic.
The bombardment came just two days after President Francois Hollande said the co-ordinated attacks in Paris that killed up to 129 people was an 'act of war' and vowed to strike ISIS in Syria 'without mercy'.
In France, police carried out around 150 co-ordinated anti-terrorism raids across the country yesterday morning, arresting dozens of suspects and seizing a cache of weapons including a rocket launcher
French fighter jets have carried out another 'massive' air strike on Raqqa, targeting an ISIS command centre
The bombardment came just two days after President Francois Hollande said the co-ordinated attacks in Paris that killed up to 129 people was an 'act of war' and vowed to strike ISIS in Syria 'without mercy'
A huge manhunt is also underway for accomplices of the Islamist cell including one of the bomb plotters who is still on the run after police let him go in a string of incredible security blunders before and after the atrocity on Friday night.
A French official has also identified the suspected mastermind of the Paris attacks as Belgian Abdelhamid Abaaoud.
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, meanwhile, has warned that authorities believe new terror attacks are being planned in France and in other European countries following the carnage.
Yesterday Hollande told a joint session of parliament at the Palace of Versailles 'France is at war', before promising to increase funds for national security and strengthen anti-terrorism laws in response to the suicide bombings and shootings that killed 129.
'We're not engaged in a war of civilisations, because these assassins do not represent any. We are in a war against jihadist terrorism which is threatening the whole world,' he told a packed, sombre chamber.
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for Friday's coordinated attacks, saying they were in retaliation for France's involvement in US-backed air strikes in Iraq and Syria.
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PARIS MASSACRE: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR ABOUT THE DEADLIEST TERROR ATTACK TO HIT EUROPE IN A DECADE
At least 129 people are dead, and another 352 injured, after three teams of jihadis struck the Stade de France football stadium, a handful of bars and cafes, and then finally the Bataclan concert hall.
FIRST TWO ATTACKS: STADE DE FRANCE
- The attacks began at 9.20pm at the Stade de France where the French football team was hosting Germany in an international friendly.
- The game was being watched by 80,000 spectators, among them was President Francois Hollande who had to be evacuated from the stadium.
- Ahmed Almohammad, 25, from Syria approached the stadium with a match ticket. He was turned away from Gate D after being frisked by a security guard.
- He backed away from the gate and detonated his vest, killing one other person. A passport was found near his body.
- A second suicide bomber, Bilal Hadfi, 20, blew himself up near Gate H at 9.30pm. No one else was reported killed. Hadfi is said to have fought with ISIS in Syria.
THIRD ATTACK: LE PETIT CAMBODGE AND LE CARILLON BAR
- At 9.25pm a separate team of gunmen arrived in a Black Seat and attacked diners at popular Cambodian restaurant Le Petit Cambodge and Le Carillon bar in the trendy Canal Saint-Martin area of eastern Paris, killing 15. The gunmen were using Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifles.
Timeline of events: Eight terrorists carried out the devastating attacks on Friday night, leaving 129 people dead and another 352 injured
FOURTH ATTACK: LA CASA NOSTRA PIZZERIA AND LA BELLE EQUIPE BAR
- The same unit then drove about 500 yards to La Casa Nostra pizzeria and opened fire on diners on the terrace of the restaurant, killing at least five people.
- From there, the militants drove around a mile south-east – apparently past the area of the Bataclan concert venue – to launch another attack, this time on La Belle Equipe bar in Rue de Charonne. At least 19 people died after the terrace was sprayed with bullets at 9.36pm The attackers then drove off.
FIFTH ATTACK: CAFÉ 'COMPTOIR VOLTAIRE'
- At 9.40pm, Ibrahim Abdeslam, also known as Brahim, 31, set off a suicide vest inside cafe 'Comptoir Voltaire' on the Boulevard Voltaire and close to the Bataclan theatre. He hired a black Seat car used in the attack, which was found later abandoned with three assault rifles, along with five full magazines. The killers had emptied 11 magazines, firing an estimated 330 rounds.
SIXTH ATTACK: BATACLAN MUSIC HALL
- At 9.40pm, the third group (believed to be three men and a woman) armed with AK-47s stormed the Bataclan music hall and began shooting members of the crowd. Survivors claim three blew themselves up and a fourth person was shot dead by police before they could detonate their bomb.
SEVENTH ATTACK: NEAR STADE DE FRANCE
- At around 10.15pm a third blast took place near the Stade de France, this time by a McDonald's restaurant on the fringes of the stadium. The boom caused terror among spectators who had already been attempting to flee the stadium following the first two explosions. The attacker who detonated his suicide vest was identified as a 20-year-old French man living in Belgium.
Tearful members of the public view flowers and tributes on the pavement near the scene of the concert hall massacre on Friday
AFTERMATH:
- On Saturday morning, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks across Paris, saying 'eight brothers wearing explosive belts and carrying assault rifles' conducted a 'blessed attack on... Crusader France'.
- On Saturday morning, the world's most wanted man, Salah Abdeslam is stopped by French police along with two other men as he approached the Belgian border. He is released after he shows his ID and returns to the Jihadi hotspot of Molenbeek in Brussels where he vanishes.
- Belgian police launch several anti-terror raids after Abdeslam was identified as having rented a VW Polo used by the Bataclan killers which was found abandoned nearby.
- One of the Stade de France suspects was found carrying a Syrian passport under the name Ahmed Almohammad who travelled to France as a migrant through Greece on October 3. Ferry tickets reveal he travelled with another man named as Mohammed Almuhamed.
- However, the French minister of justice Christiane Taubira said on Sunday that the passport under the name Ahmed Almohammad was a fake.
- Omar Ismaël Mostefai, 29, from Courcouronnes, Paris was also named as a Bataclan suicide bomber. The petty criminal and father-of-one was known to police as a radical and had travelled to Algeria and Syria. He was identified by the fingerprint on a severed digit found after he detonated his suicide belt.
- Mostefai is believed to have been radicalised by a Belgian hate preacher of Moroccan descent claimed to have regularly preached at his mosque in South West France. His father, a brother and other family members have been held and are being questioned.
- The black Seat Leon used by the terrorists who murdered diners outside the Casa Nostra pizza restaurant and the La Belle Équipe cafe was found abandoned 20 minutes away in Montreuil with three AK-47s and 16 magazines - 11 of them empty.
- Seven people were detained in Belgium linked to the atrocities. Five are from the Molenbeek area of Brussels known as a 'den of terrorists'.
- Five of those arrested, including Salah and Ibrahim Abdeslams' brother Mohamed have been released without charge. Two others have been charged with unspecified terrorist offences.
- Iraqi spies warned the West of an ISIS suicide bomber threat the day before the Paris atrocities, it was revealed on Sunday, as more details of major intelligence failures began to emerge. The US-led coalition in Syria was apparently told by Iraqi security sources that 24 extremists were involved in the terror operation planned in the ISIS capital Raqqa and it would involve 19 attackers including five others including bombmakers and planners. No detail was given of when or where an attack might take place.
- It has also emerged that Turkey's authorities foiled a plot to stage a 'Jihadi John revenge attack' in Istanbul - involving a high-profile British jihadist - on the same day as the deadly massacre in Paris.
- From as far back as August, France's authorities possessed information that militants were said to be planning attacks on French concert halls after a tip-off was received from a 30-year-old man who was detained on his way back from Syria.
- On Sunday night there were 42 people still said to be in intensive care in hospital following Friday's terrorist attacks.
Thousands lined the streets of Paris on Monday for a minute's silence to remember those killed in a wave of attacks on the city on Friday
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
- French and Belgian police are still hunting for three gunmen on the run, including Abdeslam, and an ISIS bombmaker likely to have made the suicide vests.
- An international arrest warrant has been issued for Abdeslam, 26, who is accused of renting a Volkswagen Polo used by the suicide bombers.
- It emerged on Sunday night that police found Abdeslam near the Belgian border early Saturday but let him go after he showed them his ID card. Officers pulled over the car being driven by Abdeslam on Saturday morning on the A2 motorway between Paris and Brussels. Two other men were also in the car.
- At the time, officers in Paris knew that Abdeslam had rented the car used by the killers which had been abandoned near the theatre but the information had not been transmitted to those responsible for conducting the border checks.
- On Sunday evening the French defence ministry announced that the country's warplanes had bombed Islamic State's stronghold in Syria's Raqa, destroying a command post and a training camp. Ten fighter jets were involved, dropping 20 bombs.
- French and Belgian police conducted 168 pre-dawn anti-terror raids on Monday, including a botched attempt to capture Abdeslam, who is still on the run. The raids took place at addresses in Brussels, Toulouse, Lyon, Grenoble, Calais and two suburbs of Paris. A rocket launcher, flak jackets, several pistols and a Kalashnikov assault rifle were among the cache of weapons seized in Lyon overnight.
- French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said 104 people had been placed under house arrest, while 23 suspects were detained for questioning.
- The mastermind behind the Paris terror attacks is named as one of ISIS' top executioners, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, 27, who even recruited his 13-year-old brother to fight with him in Syria.
- ISIS issue a chilling new video warning that countries taking part in air strikes against Syria will suffer the same fate as Paris and claimed they will attack Washington D.C. next.
- French police have discovered a safe house used by the terror gang in the Bobigny suburb of Paris rented three days before the attack.
- The Royal Air Force has stuck ISIS targets in northern Iraq as the French continue their air strikes against the Jihadi stronghold of Raqqa, Syria.
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Now those evil scum will join their Master in HELL..... 
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