Syrian regime can be part of anti-IS fight, says France FM

Ground troops in Syria ‘cannot be ours,’ explains Laurent Fabius, later clarifies he meant only if Assad leaves

PARIS, France – French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Friday he could envisage Syrian regime troops taking part in the fight to crush the Islamic State jihadists who claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks.

In order to fight IS, “there must be two measures: bombings… and ground troops who cannot be ours, but who should be of the (opposition) Free Syrian Army, Sunni Arab forces, and why not regime forces too,” Fabius told RTL radio.

Fabius later clarified his position, telling AFP he meant that Syrian government troops could take part in the fight against IS after a change of regime.

It could happen “within the context of a political transition — and only in this context,” he said.

The principal target of military efforts remains Raqqa, the Syrian city that is the stronghold of IS, Fabius said. Russian and French jets have targeted the town in recent days.

“For us it is one of the main military targets, even the main one, because it is the nerve center of Daesh, and the attacks against France were planned from there,” Fabius said, using another name for IS.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for a deadly terror rampage in the French capital earlier this month that killed 130.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.