Le Drian: Absolute priority is restoration of lands from IS

The French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Tuesday that the restoration of the last territories under IS' control remains "absolute priority," warning that the Syrian Democratic Forces may not be in compliance with the expected Turkish attack on them.

18 December, 2018 18:55

NEWS DESK

Agence France-Presse quoted from Le Drian in Biarritz in the south-west of the country, where he presented the French presidency's priorities for the Seven States Group summit in 2019.

Le Drian said, "IS maintains sites in the east of the country; the Syrian Democratic Forces' restoration of these sites with the support of the International Alliance is the absolute priority."

Le Drian said, "We must achieve stability in the liberated areas from the terrorist organization at the hands of the Kurdish and Arab forces that we support and which have made a significant sacrifice in this fighting."

The French minister said, "There will not achieve a permanent victory over IS for a safe and voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons without a political solution acceptable by all Syrians."

The Turkish state is threatening to launch attacks on northern and eastern Syria, prompting the Syrian Democratic Forces to halt its military campaign against IS mercenaries in their last strongholds.

The Syrian Democratic Forces suspended in October operations against IS temporarily after a series of attacks launched by the Turkish state that targeted the border in the northern regions of Syria.

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