France said Sunday it had carried out its first air strikes against ISIL in Syria following nearly three weeks of surveillance flights.

France said Sunday it had carried out its first air strikes against ISIL in Syria following nearly three weeks of surveillance flights.

The office of President Francois Hollande said the strikes were aimed at targets identified during surveillance missions conducted since September 8.

The operation to "fight the terrorist threat" of ISIS was coordinated with regional partners, a statement said.

"We will strike any time our national security is at stake," it said.

In an announcement earlier this month, France cited self-defense as its rationale for planning the strikes, while ruling out ground operations.

French planes are already involved in air strikes against the militants in neighboring Iraq.

The announcement of the strikes in Syria comes the day before Hollande joins world leaders for the start of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, where the four-year Syrian war is expected to be at the center of debate.

Sunday's statement from the French presidency called for a "comprehensive response (to the) Syrian chaos", saying: "Civilian populations must be protected against all forms of violence, that of Daesh (ISIL) and other terrorist groups, but also against the murderous bombings of (Syrian President) Bashar Assad."