PARIS, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee at France's upper house of parliament, the Senate, was planning to hear Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly over the country's air strikes in Chad to halt militant advance from Libya, Le Figaro newspaper reported on Thursday.

"In order to allow the good information of the parliament," Christian Cambon, president of the committee, called on the minister to appear before the committee to answer questions about the French military offensive in the African country and assess the situation, the report added.

No details were given on the date of the hearing.

On Sunday, Mirage fighter jets launched strikes targeting a column of 50 pickups carrying armed groups from southern Libya into Chadian territory, at the request of local authorities to counter the incursion of armed rebels.

French warplanes destroyed about 20 pickup trucks in a third day of air strikes on Wednesday, defense ministry said in a statement.

"These interventions, carried out in response to the request of the Chadian authorities, were conducted with a proportionate, graduated and accurate way. They aimed to show to this column (of militants) the determination of the Chadian and French authorities to see it halt its advance," the ministry added.

It noted that the incursion of armed militants in Chadian territory "was likely to destabilize the country." Enditem

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