France is sending a warship to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Syria in advance of a possible US-led military air strike against the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

The French newsmagazine Le Point reported in its Thursday edition that the state-of-the-art frigate “Chevalier Paul” is on its way, on “routine maneuvers”.  Its specialty is air defense, which will be useful if Syria decides to launch its own attack on the flotilla of US Navy Destroyers already on the scene.

France’s military seems perched and ready, but the government is speaking of caution.  Some officials also are calling for a delay in action until United Nations weapons inspectors conclude their investigation into the 21 August chemical weapons attack that killed at least 355 people in the eastern suburbs of Damascus.

“Before acting, we need proof,” said Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, a minister and government spokeswoman.

“Do we know with certainty who used these vile weapons? No,” said opposition lawmaker Jacques Myard who also noted that the rush to war a decade ago, which France opposed, looms large.

“Once bitten, twice shy: the Iraq affair remains on everyone’s mind.”

France's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier the "Charles de Gaulle" remains in dock at the southern French naval port Toulon.