[okie01]

I wonder where those Rafales are taking off from. I don't recall their having a base in the Middle East.

Conducting the raids from metropolitan France would require what, two re-fuelings -- an expensive proposition.

[okie01]

Actually, it's around 3600 miles round trip from SE France to Raqaa. The Rafale is said to have a combat radius of 1000 miles, so only one re-fueling would be necessary (though two would provide for a greater margin-of-error...and combat load).

[etabeta]

I read they are taking off from the Emirates and Jordan.