Macron: France to Keep Military Presence in Syria-Iraq Region Over Next Year

16:59 GMT, 17 January 2019

French President Emmanuel Macron explained that the recent terror attack that claimed the lives of US soldiers in the Syrian city of Manbij showed that the battle against Daesh* is not over.

Sputnik

Macron also stressed that France will continue being militarily engaged in the Middle East in the international coalition throughout 2019.

"The announced withdrawal of our American ally should not deflect us from our strategic objective to eradicate Daesh", Macron said on Thursday addressing the armed forces in the French city of Toulouse.

Trump Vows to Exit Syria Despite Manbij Attack Killing US Soldiers

17 January 2019, 06:24 GMT

The French leader's comments come after, the day before, a suicide bombing claimed by Daesh militants killed at least 16 people, including two US service members and two American civilians, in northern Syria.

Last month, US President Donald Trump announced that he was ordering a full troop pullout from Syria, saying the war against Daesh was won.

This announced withdrawal was condemned by a number of US officials and resulted in two resignations: US Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis and Brett McGurk, special presidential envoy for the US coalition in Syria.

*Daesh (ISIL/ISIS/Islamic State) is a terrorist group banned in Russia and many other countries.