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Fight against Islamic state

Sarkozy: Defeating Islamic State is possible within months

The terrorist organization has stronger positions now despite the airstrikes the international coalition has been delivering on it

© AP Photo/Hatem Moussa

PARIS, September 18. /TASS/. Settlement of the situation in Syria and defeating the Islamists is possible within months, France’s former President Nicolas Sarkozy said.

"It is possible to free Syria [from presence of the Islamic State - TASS] within months," he said. "It is a question of leadership."

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"It is necessary to rely on countries neighbouring Syria, to establish a dialogue with Russia and Putin," he said in an interview with Le Parisien daily.

Sarkozy, leading France’s opposing party, criticised position of the country’s incumbent President Francois Hollande, who earlier had ordered reconnaissance flights above Syria for collecting data on bases of the Islamists there.

"The Islamic State’s militants must be shivering with fever," Sarkozy said ironically. "No, there should be more active actions, and massive airstrikes should be targeted at the bases."

France’s preparations for active air strikes in Syria do not cause positive reactions. The country’s former Defence Minister Herve Morin said directly they "would bring no results."

"The US has been delivering air strikes for a long time now, both in Iraq and Syria, but with not much result," he said. "The Islamists have even stronger positions now."

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Syria Islamic State

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