French Defense Minister in Iraq for Talks on Anti-Daesh War
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian arrived in Baghdad Monday on an unannounced visit for talks with Iraqi officials on the war against Daesh (ISIL).
Le Drian discussed the campaign against Daesh with Iraq's President Fuad Masum and parliament speaker Salim al-Juburi, their offices said in statements, AFP reported.
Daesh claimed attacks in Paris that killed 130 people in November last year and there is concern that the extremists will strike the country again.
Belgium's federal prosecutor has said that a extremist cell that attacked the Brussels airport and a metro station last month, killing 32 people, initially planned to target France.
France is part of an alleged US-led coalition that is carrying out airstrikes against Daesh and providing training and other assistance to Iraqi and Syrian forces.
Daesh overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in June 2014, but Iraqi forces have since regained ground with backing from the coalition.
The extremists still control significant territory in western Iraq and hold major areas in neighboring Syria.
His visit comes just days after US Secretary of State John Kerry vowed during a trip to Baghdad that the coalition and Iraq would turn up the heat on Daesh after the extremists suffered a string of losses.
