It would be one thing if ISIL pulled a Pearl Harbor type attack on the French Navy, wiping them out in port. Instead the first thing they did in France was kill people attending a soccer match, a concert, eating at a restaurant. I do see a difference there between an act of war and out and out terror on the civilian population.
That doesn't make it any easier to respond, I know. It must be met with counter-violence of some kind, unfortunately with terrible consequences for the civilian population in Syria where ISIL hides among and dares to call itself the state. IMO.