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France to ramp up air strikes against Isis, says President Francois Hollande | France to ramp up air strikes against Isis, says President Francois Hollande |
(about 1 hour later) | |
French President Francois Hollande has said a coalition involved in a bombing campaign against Isis will "accelerate" air strikes. | |
"The pace of the interventions will be accelerated and France will play its role in this," Mr Hollande said in a New Year's address to French and foreign ambassadors on Thursday, AFP reports. | |
Mr Hollande said any political negotiation to end the Syrian crisis needed to provide clarity on the future leadership of the country. | |
He added Paris was ready to train Libyan security forces once a government was fully in place and warned the power vacuum in Lebanon needed to be resolved urgently. | He added Paris was ready to train Libyan security forces once a government was fully in place and warned the power vacuum in Lebanon needed to be resolved urgently. |
The announcement comes after defence chiefs in France pledged to intensify their fight against Isis in an effort to take advantage of recent battlefield gains against the terror group. | The announcement comes after defence chiefs in France pledged to intensify their fight against Isis in an effort to take advantage of recent battlefield gains against the terror group. |
Ministers from the United States, Britain and four other countries also agreed to escalate their campaign against Isis, during talks in Paris on Wednesday. | Ministers from the United States, Britain and four other countries also agreed to escalate their campaign against Isis, during talks in Paris on Wednesday. |
At a news conference with French Defence Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, US Defence Secretary, Ash Carter, said there was broad agreement on a co-ordinated plan to battle Isis over the next year and re-take key cities under the militants' control. | At a news conference with French Defence Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, US Defence Secretary, Ash Carter, said there was broad agreement on a co-ordinated plan to battle Isis over the next year and re-take key cities under the militants' control. |
"Raqqa and Mosul must be won back," Mr Le Drian said, adding it can only succeed if the coalition supports the local forces on the ground in Iraq and Syria. | "Raqqa and Mosul must be won back," Mr Le Drian said, adding it can only succeed if the coalition supports the local forces on the ground in Iraq and Syria. |