France launches air strikes in Syria

French warplanes pounded the Islamic State (IS) group's stronghold in Syria's Raqqa on Sunday, destroying a command post and a training camp, the defence ministry said.

"The first target destroyed was used by Daesh [an Arabic acronym for IS] as a command post, jihadist recruitment centre and arms and munitions depot. The second held a terrorist training camp," a ministry statement said.

In its first air strike against IS since Friday's string of deadly Paris attacks claimed by the militant group, 12 warplanes, including 10 fighter bombers, dropped 20 bombs on the targets.

French President Francois Hollande on Saturday blamed IS for the gun and suicide attacks that left at least 132 dead in Paris on Friday, calling them an "act of war".

Speaking from northern Iraq, Sky News reporter Sam Kiley told the broadcast network that French airstrikes should not be considered as a "wanton act of revenge".

"I think it's very clear that the French and the wider coalition have decided in a sense to give France the iron fist at least for the next 24 hours or so," he said.

"The scale of these French air strikes should not be seen as a wanton act of revenge, but really the French basically saying to their allies, 'we want to do all of the airstrikes' over the next period of time - however long that may be."

Kiley added: "I think essentially what's gone on here is the coalition have said 'this is your turn to hit back as France rather than as the coalition'.

"But I don't think this should be seen as some kind of carpet-bombing campaign.

"These are extremely precise air strikes that are carried out after exhaustive legal processes required under French and international law."

The Paris attackers talked with IS members in Syria prior to the assault, both French and American officials told the New York Times.

If true, then that indicates that the militant group helped to coordinate the attacks rather than inspiring them.