The French military said Wednesday it would deploy three more fighter jets and a warship to the Middle East to boost support to Iraqi forces fighting Islamic State jihadists. The warplanes will be sent to France's Al Dhafra military base in the United Arab Emirates, from where it has launched two rounds of air strikes as part of a US-led coalition battling IS fighters. "The French equipment will thus be increased to nine Rafale" fighter jets, said a military statement. The reinforcement "aims to increase aerial support of Iraqi forces, in terms of intelligence gathering and armed reconnaissance."