Obama, Hollande reiterate commitment to destroy IS: White House

Russian Federation has been calling for reforms leading to free elections, while the Obama Administration demands the exclusion of President Assad and other top figures in the existing Syrian government from any post-war government.

French President Hollande along with Russia’s President Putin.

The two world leaders discussed their commitment to fighting ISIS, and Obama expressed condolences on behalf of the U.S.to the loved ones of those killed in last week’s terror attacks in Paris, according to a White House description of the phone call.

With a total of 38 fighters, France will be able to “intensify its operations in Syria”, Hollande said following Friday’s deadly attacks in Paris.

Hollande is scheduled to travel to Moscow on November 26, where he will attempt to bridge a US-Russian divide on anti-terrorism operations in Syria during talks with President Putin.

The announcement comes as France seeks to build a grand coalition, which includes the United States and Russian Federation, to battle the terrorist group, but experts believe the meeting in Washington will be mainly symbolic and that there is little France can do to sway the Americans to put boots on the ground or get Washington to coordinate more closely with Moscow.

Forging an alliance with the West to fight IS would offer Putin a chance to raise Russia’s global clout and prestige and to fix relations that were shattered by the Ukraine crisis.

On Monday, the Pentagon said coalition strikes on Sunday destroyed 116 fuel trucks used by the jihadists near Albu Kamal, an IS-held town in Deir Ezzor province on the border with Iraq.