Ready to strike Syria if chemical weapons used: French army chief

France's top military official said on Thursday his forces were prepared to carry out strikes on Syrian targets if chemical weapons were used in an expected government offensive to retake the northern province of Idlib.

Speaking to a small group of reporters, Armed Forces Chief Francois Lecointre said he expected the final pockets of Islamic State resistance in Iraq and Syria to be eradicated by the end of November.

The French Foreign Ministry on Monday reiterated that France is ready to act if Syria regime uses any kind of lethal chemical weapons.

The statement came following reports that Syria and its allies are preparing for what could be an assault in Idlib, one for the few remaining zones still in control of the rebel.

France joined the US and Britain in bombing Syrian sites in April, claiming chemical weapons had been used in a regime attack on a Damascus suburb.