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Fight against Islamic state

France FM rules out military participation in ground operation in Syria

"Such military operations must be conducted by representatives of the local population and countries of the region," the top French diplomat said

© AP Photo/Michel Euler

PARIS, September 22. /TASS/. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius believes it is impossible as well as totally unreasonable for his country’s military forces to take part in the ground combat operation in Syria, French daily Le Figaro reported.

"It would be inadmissible to send French soldiers for the ground operation in Syria, moreover, letting them act alone since no other country intends to take a similar step," Fabius said in an interview with Le Figaro.

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Fabius said that "the experience of armed conflicts in the past proved that wars of such nature are impossible to win in countries by means of armies from other countries."

"Of course, military aviation of international coalition could be of help and is capable of rendering a support, but in reality such military operations must be conducted by representatives of the local population and countries of the region," the top French diplomat said.

Asked whether it was inconsistent for France, which at first rejected ideas of delivering air strikes on Syria but then announced their necessity, Fabius said: "We have obtained verified data that militants of the Islamic State were preparing in Syria terrorist attacks on France and other countries."

"Facing such threat France decided to conduct reconnaissance flights, which would enable us to deliver air strikes if the need arises," he said. "This is a legal self-defense."

"There is no inconsistency in all of this as we have simply adjusted our stance to conditions of reinvigorated threat, which was proved to exist," Fabius added.

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