Powers move towards 'grand coalition' against ISIS
- 8 years ago
French President Francois Hollande told Russia's Vladimir Putin on Thursday that world powers must create a "grand coalition" to combat Islamic State militants who control swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq.
Meanwhile, Germany announced that it would commit military personnel and hardware to the fight, and British Prime Minister David Cameron said it was time for the United Kingdom to join airstrikes.
Putin said after the talks that Russia is open to closer cooperation with both France and the US-led coalition on selecting IS targets.
Hollande said after the meeting that France and Russia had agreed to exchange intelligence on Islamic State and other militant groups in Syria to help improve the effectiveness of their aerial bombing campaigns in the country.
"What we agreed, and this is important, is to strike only terrorists and Daesh (Islamic State) and to not strike forces that are fighting terrorism.
We will exchange information about whom to hit and whom not to hit," Hollande told a joint news conference with Putin.
Meanwhile, Germany announced that it would commit military personnel and hardware to the fight, and British Prime Minister David Cameron said it was time for the United Kingdom to join airstrikes.
Putin said after the talks that Russia is open to closer cooperation with both France and the US-led coalition on selecting IS targets.
Hollande said after the meeting that France and Russia had agreed to exchange intelligence on Islamic State and other militant groups in Syria to help improve the effectiveness of their aerial bombing campaigns in the country.
"What we agreed, and this is important, is to strike only terrorists and Daesh (Islamic State) and to not strike forces that are fighting terrorism.
We will exchange information about whom to hit and whom not to hit," Hollande told a joint news conference with Putin.