Acting in Iraq prevents terrorist attacks on France: French President

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The President of France on Monday landed in Baghdad and met with French advisers and troops in the country who had trained over 6,000 Iraqi soldiers in the battle against the Islamic State (IS).

French President Francois Hollande, accompanied by the Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, visited French forces in Iraq.

Hollande highlighted the progress of the IS war since his first visit to the country on Sep. 12, 2014.

He expressed commitment to the stability of the region and the battle against terrorist organizations in the country.

There are 500 French troops and military advisers in Iraq.

Since 2015, they trained 6,130 Iraqi soldiers including the Counter-Terrorism (CT) forces who continue to make significant advances in Mosul.

“Acting in Iraq is also preventing terrorist acts on our soil,” Hollande told French troops, Elysee quoted him.

“I know you miss your families. Thanks for the work you do. Happy New Year!” He added.

The French President will meet Iraqi officials and discuss the latest developments in the fight against the extremist group and later fly to Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdistan Region.

France is the second contributor to the international coalition defeating IS. The nation joined the alliance in September 2014.

According to figures from the French Defense Ministry, France has 14 Rafale fighter jets stationed in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates which provide aerial support to the Iraqi forces.

Moreover, French warplanes have carried out nearly 5,700 sorties, about 1,000 air strikes, and destroyed over 1,700 targets.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany