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French President Francois Hollande on Friday said that France is prepared to increase military aid to Iraq, as global efforts to combat the extremist fighters intensify. Hollande was on a visit to Baghdad, the highest-profile visit to the country since extremists led by the Islamic State (IS) seized territory in Iraq and Syria in a sweeping move which sparked international concern over the extremist threat.
A few hours before Hollande’s visit, the United States secured the support of ten Arab nations to help battle the IS. On Thursday, the CIA said that there were around 30,000 fighters from the IS ranks battling in Syria and Iraq.
France, which will host an international conference about the situation in Iraq on Monday, said that it is willing to participate in air strikes against the extremists in Iraq “if necessary”.
“I came here to Baghdad to state France’s availability in providing even more military assistance to Iraq” Hollande said at a joint conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, whose cabinet was only recently approved, with several important security posts still vacant.
Hollande also said that after meeting Iraqi President Faud Masum that “it is an honor to be the first head of state here since this government was formed”, and assured him “of France’s support and solidarity”.
The US has been involved in an aerial campaign in Iraq, its first involvement in Iraq since it pulled out all of its soldiers from the country in 2011. Earlier in the week, US President Barack Obama promised to expand US operations in Iraq, with the Pentagon announcing that combat aircraft will soon fly out to Iraq.
Obama is looking to build a coalition to fight the IS, which has declared a “caliphate” across parts Syria and Iraq – the group has gained renown by attacking minorities, posting videos of grotesque beheadings on the internet and even promising to take on Western countries.