Obama, Hollande Say They Will Expand Attacks Against ISIS In Syria, Iraq

US President Barack Obama, shortly after meeting with his French counterpart Francois Hollande at the White House, urged calm and said diplomacy should be allowed to work.

Obama and Hollande tried to focus instead on their joint efforts against the Islamic State, lauding more than 8,000 air strikes that they said have helped to reclaim some territory.

“It’s one thing to ask the United States to do more, but keeping in mind that the USA is already the country most militarily involved against Islamic State”, de Gilbert said.

Hollande concurred, saying France wants to work alongside Russian Federation, but only if President Vladimir Putin “fully commits” to supporting a political transition in Syria.

The main option that will be reportedly discussed is to close the Syrian-Turkish border to stop the reinforcement of terrorists, a move proposed by Paris shortly after the downing of a Russian military jet by the Turkish Air Force.

Hollande was visiting Washington on the diplomatic marathon he has pursued since the November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris, in hopes of merging into one the separate coalitions now led by the United States and Russian Federation in Syria.

Russia, on the other hand, has had several talks with U.S. President Barack Obama over the past months to settle on how the countries should cooperate in destroying Islamic State posts and weapon facilities in Syria and Iraq. Russian Federation is a staunch supporter of the president and has been bombing his enemies in Syria, while France and the US and many of their allies are eager to see the brutal dictator unseated.

Since the attacks, France has scaled up military operations in Iraq and Syria, where the group operates.

“We have agreed… That we will exchange information about which territories are occupied by the healthy part of the opposition rather than terrorists, and will avoid targeting them with our airstrikes”, Putin said.

The U.S. and France “share the determination to fight terrorism anywhere”, Hollande said, through a translator.

France and the United States joined North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the United Nations in calling for a de-escalation of tensions yesterday after Turkey shot down a Russian war plane over its volatile border with Syria.

Both leaders said they would boost support for forces battling Islamic State on the ground, while continuing to rule out any ground campaign.

Mr Hollande has called on Washington and Moscow to form a grand coalition against the ISIS, in light of both the Paris attacks and the downing of the Russian plane over Sinai.

The Brookings Institution’s Bruce Jones says Obama’s meeting with Hollande underlines the importance of the West and the need to strengthen the trans-Atlantic relationship in light of recent crises, whether it be the Paris attacks or the massive migration of Syrian refugees into Europe. “Our objectives are being fulfilled and fulfilled well”, said Putin.

“Given Russia’s military capabilities and the influence they have on the Assad regime, them co-operating would be enormously helpful in bringing about resolution of the civil war in Syria”, Obama said.