This photo released on Monday, Nov. 23, 2015 by the French Army Communications Audiovisual office (ECPAD) shows a French army Rafale fighter jet taking off from the deck of France's aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, in the Mediterranean sea. The French Defense Ministry says it has launched its first airstrikes from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, bombing Islamic State targets in the Iraqi cities of Ramadi and Mosul. (Defense Ministry/ECPAD via AP)

Warplanes took off Monday from France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, newly deployed to the eastern Mediterranean, for operations over areas held by the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, military sources said.Rafale jets loaded with bombs were catapulted from the carrier's flight deck Monday morning, an AFP reporter saw.

Speaking to AFP, the sources did not indicate the nature of the operations, which come 10 days after the deadly attacks in Paris that left 130 dead.

French President Francois Hollande said earlier in Paris: "We will intensify our strikes, choosing targets that will do the most damage possible to this army of terrorists."

The Charles De Gaulle has 26 fighters, more than doubling France's strike capacity in the US-led mission against IS.

France already has six Mirage and six Rafale jets stationed in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. (AFP)