It sounds like the French need to make an order for A-10 Warthogs.
This is just so stupid.
This is an obsolete airframe, which should be retired. In a desperate attempt to preserve the system, the military is assigning it the duty that nobody wants.
They do no do this because it is particularly well suited to the role. In fact, it is pretty much exactly not suited to the role. The entire airframe is about high/fast/light. The mission is low/slow/tough. There is no way to insert Tab A into Slot B.
The mission will probably be a success, because bad ground attack aircraft are a heckuva a lot better than no ground attack aircraft. But the mission could be done better and cheaper by just about any aircraft you could imagine.
Except the F-35, of course. The F-35 will be worse at the mission and cost a lot, lot more.
Where is southwest Asia? Who are the SW Asians?