PARIS -- French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Tuesday the fight against Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraqwould be longer than anticipated, reiterating the coalition countries' determination to eradicate the Islamist threat in the region.
At a joint press meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the French top diplomat "reaffirmed the unity and common determination to fight the Islamic State."
"But we recognize it is a long-term battle," he added without elaborating.
At the Paris meeting on the military situation in Iraq and Syria, Western leaders and Middle Eastern officials participating in the U.S.-led strikes discussed their strategy to help Iraqi authorities in their battle against Islamist insurgents, mainly via air strikes and military equipment, Fabius added.
Twenty-four delegations representing the Group of the Global Coalition to counter IS also focused on ways to preserve the stability in retaken areas, the safe and enduring return of refugees and displaced persons, notably victims of ethnic and religious violence, and the protection of cultural heritage.
In a final statement posted on the Quai d'Orsay website, participants "stressed their continued resolve to remove Daesh (IS) from the regions in which it established itself in Iraq and Syria, and commended the dedication and actions of the coalition's working groups to this end."
The leaders pledged their complete support to the Iraqi government to promote national unity, urging swift moves to push forward reforms.
As for the Syrian crisis, coalition countries noted the "urgent need" to find a diplomatic alternative to end the conflict, asking for "the speedy launch of an UN-facilitated genuine and inclusive political process in order to implement the principles of the Geneva Communique," namely, a transitioning governing body with full executive powers.
Despite month-long air strikes by the U.S.-led coalition, IS made more advances after taking the control of Ramadi, the capital city of Anbar province, and seized around a third of the ancient city of Palmyra at the end of May.
