Hollande, Obama stand united against Islamic State but rule out ground

“We know of no specific and credible intelligence indicating a plot on the homeland”, he said from the White House.

“We like the French” for their “mindset” their “culture” and “verve”, said Mr. Obama, at a joint press conference with Hollande.

Even before the incident between Turkey and Russian Federation, Hollande faced a tough challenge in getting Obama to agree to a partnership with Moscow.

“We did see French military pilots carry out an additional round or two of airstrikes over Syria“, he said, adding that the White House welcomes the action.

After leaving Washington, Hollande will travel to Moscow to meet with Putin.

“But we must prevent an escalation”.

“I think the only realistic leader at this point is the United States – a leader that would come in and try to deconflict the military operation, say between Turkey and Russian Federation, between Russia and the United States, but also unify from a political and military point of view a united front of countries against the Islamic State”, Burns told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.

US President Barack Obama (R) greets French President Francois Hollande during a joint news.

President Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande have started their Oval Office meeting on the global response to the Islamic State group.

As the Islamic State group expands its reach outside its bases in Syria and Iraq, Obama is facing increased pressure at home and overseas to ramp up USA efforts to destroy the militants.

“There’s no reason for aircraft to be flying where they shouldn’t, frankly”, said U.S. Army Col. Steven Warren, the spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS.

Police in France said they were analyzing what is thought to be a suicide belt similar to those used in the Paris attacks, found without its detonator in a dustbin outside the capital.

Obama said, “We are here today to declare that the United States and France stand united in total solidarity to deliver justice to these terrorists and those who sent them and to defend our nations”.

“Until that happens, it’s very hard”, said Obama.

He praised law enforcement officials around the country for “working overtime” to protect the American people, and said their efforts have saved lives.

However, Hollande said France will not put troops on the ground in Syria to fight the IS.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has managed to stay in power throughout almost five years of civil war in his country, killing hundreds of thousands of his own citizens in the process.

Hollande said the two leaders agreed on the importance of closing the Turkish border to limit the movement of extremists into Europe.

Tuesday’s summit at the White House was the first face-to-face meeting for Obama and Hollande since Islamic State operatives killed 130 people November 13 in coordinated attacks in Paris.