12/09/2014 09:18
France preparing for action, president visits Iraq
French President Francois Hollande is en route to Iraq, as his country prepares possible airstrikes with a U.S.-led coalition against extremists who have seized territory around the region, The Associated Press reported.
French diplomats say Hollande's visit, and a conference Paris is hosting Monday on Iraq, are the first steps in a long-term effort to bolster the Iraqi government and weaken militants from the Islamic State group.
Hollande and his defense and foreign ministers are expected to arrive early Friday in Baghdad, where they will meet the new prime minister and president.
Hollande has been one of the most militarily aggressive leaders in modern French history, sending troops to Mali and Central African Republic. France was the first European government to start arming Kurdish authorities against Islamic State militants last month.
Hollande is expected to discuss airstrikes with Iraqi authorities during his visit. France is likely to start strikes very soon in coordination with the U.S. if the Iraqi government requests it, but won't send ground troops, a senior French official said Thursday. The official was not authorized to be publicly named according to government policy.