Please Explain??????????????

While reading the April issue of Air International I encountered this paragraph in the Article ” War clouds gather over Iraq “( page 15 ) .
” From the French air force, two Mirage IVPs from ERS.01.091 left Istres for al Kharj , Saudi Arabia on Febuary 21 , accompanied by two C- 135FR tanker aircraft , for reconnaissance missions to assist in location of sites suspected of housing weapons of mass destruction.”
Please excuse any ignorance on my part, but would’nt the aircraft being heading the other way considering as far as I knew the French government was totally AGAINST MILITARY ACTION IN IRAQ ! :confused: :confused: :confused: