French president to visit Iraq on Monday
French President Francois Hollande says he will travel to Iraq on Monday to honor troops taking part in a US-led military coalition against Daesh.
Hollande made the announcement during his televised New Year address on Saturday, while stressing that the fight against the “plight of terrorism” must go on.
France is a member of the US-led coalition that has been conducting air raids against purported positions held by the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in Iraq since August 2014.
"This is the reason for our military operations abroad, in Mali, in Syria, in Iraq -- Iraq where I'll be going the day after tomorrow to salute our troops," he added.
France’s claim to be fighting the terrorists comes as the country itself stands accused of supporting militants in Iraq and Syria.
France currently has some 500 troops stationed in Iraq, along with several Rafale fighter jets who offer air support to coalition troops.
Gruesome violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since Daesh terrorists mounted an offensive there more than two years ago, and took control of portions of Iraqi territory.
Iraqi army soldiers and fighters from allied Popular Mobilization Units are trying to win back militant-held regions in joint operations.
On October 17, Iraqi army soldiers, supported by pro-government Popular Mobilization Units and Kurdish Peshmerga forces, launched a joint operation to retake Mosul from Daesh terrorists.
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