Paris
France is calling on European and other members of the coalition fighting the militant Islamic State (IS) group in Syria to regroup as the United States abdicates its leadership role in the region. French Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian said in an interview on French television channel BFM on Wednesday that France is notably now looking to Russia, given their “common interests” in defeating the IS group in Syria. He said the American military withdrawal from northeastern Syria is forcing European leaders to re-examine their alliance with the US in the region. Le Drian said France’s “own security is at stake” amid the Turkish offensive against Syrian Kurdish fighters.— AP
