PARIS - France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier will be deployed to support operations against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, France's presidency said in a statement on Thursday.

"The deployment of the battle group alongside the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier has been decided to participate in operations against Daesch and its affiliate groups," the statement said after a defense Cabinet meeting, referring to the Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

France to Deploy Aircraft Carrier to Help Operations Against IS

The statement added that Paris supported efforts to reach a political transition in Syria, but that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in no way could be part of the country's future.

France to Deploy Aircraft Carrier to Help Operations Against IS

The carrier is usually accompanied by an attack submarine, several frigates and a refuelling ship.

France to Deploy Aircraft Carrier to Help Operations Against IS

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Click For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp

PARIS, Nov 5 (Reuters) - France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft

carrier will be deployed to support operations against Islamic

State in Syria and Iraq, France's presidency said in a statement

on Thursday.

"The deployment of the battle group alongside the Charles de

Gaulle aircraft carrier has been decided to participate in

operations against Daesch and its affiliate groups," the

statement said after a defence cabinet meeting, referring to the

Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

The statement added that Paris supported efforts to reach a

political transition in Syria, but that Syrian President Bashar

al-Assad in no way could be part of the country's future.

The carrier is usually accompanied by an attack submarine,

several frigates and a refuelling ship.

(Reporting By John Irish; Editing by Andrew Callus)