The French president has arrived in Iraq to visit with troops taking part in a US-led coalition against the militant "Islamic State" group. A suicide bomber struck a Baghdad suburb as Hollande met with Iraqi leaders.
Image: Reuters/C. Ena
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French President Francois Hollande began a one-day official visit to Iraq on Monday, meeting with French troops and local officials to discuss the fight against the so-called "Islamic State" (IS) group.
Hollande urged that supporting military operations against IS in Iraq is key to preventing terror attacks back in France.
"Taking action against terrorism here in Iraq is also preventing acts of terrorism on our own soil," he said during a visit to a base near Baghdad where French forces are helping to train Iraq's elite Counter-Terrorism Service.
He also told troops that he hoped for "a year of victory against terrorism."
His comments come amidst fears that IS territory losses in Iraq and Syria will prompt terror attacks back in Europe as former IS fighters return home. Over the past two years, France has suffered multiple terrorist attacks claimed by IS.
Hollande, who is traveling with French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, met separately with Iraqi President Fuad Masum (pictured above left) and Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.
Later on Monday, he will travel to the country's self-governing northern Kurdish region to meet with local officials and French troops.
France is a large contributor to the US-led coalition against IS that has carried out thousands of airstrikes against the militant group in Iraq and Syria. It has also provided military equipment and training to Iraqi troops.
The coalition formed in 2014 to fight the extremist group after it seized large areas in Iraq and Syria, declaring an Islamic "caliphate."
Hollande met with French troops at a base outside Baghdad on MondayImage: Reuters/C. Ena
Bomb blast in Baghdad
As Hollande met with Iraqi leaders, a suicide car bomb attack in a densely populated neighborhood of Baghdad killed several people and left dozens wounded.
According to an interior ministry official 35 people were killed and 65 injured. A police officer said the attacker drove a pickup truck, targeting an outdoor fruit and vegetable market where many daily laborers were waiting for jobs.
Back in France, Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve called on Russia to stop military action in Syria and respect a fragile nationwide ceasefire.
"We resolutely condemn everything Russia could do in Syria that would contribute to a continuation of fighting," Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said on France Inter radio on Monday.
The latest nationwide truce deal, brokered by Russia and Turkey, has been repeatedly violated since it began on Friday with government and rebels trading blame.
"We ask the Russians to stop taking part in military operations which are deadly operations," Cazeneuve added, without naming specific military actions.
Russia entered the conflict in September 2015 in a bid to bolster the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a key regional ally.
What is the 'Islamic State'?
IS has gone from an obscure al-Qaida splinter group to a global phenomenon. DW takes a look at the defining aspects of the jihadi group — from its "caliphate" to its tactics.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/Al-Furqan
Where did it come from?
The "Islamic State" (IS) — also known as ISIL, ISIS and Daesh — is an al-Qaida splinter group with a militant Sunni Islamist ideology. It emerged in the aftermath of the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and is led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Their goal is to create a worldwide "caliphate." It gained worldwide notoriety in 2014 after a blitzkrieg military campaign that resulted in the capture of Mosul.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo
Where does it operate?
IS is believed to be operational in more than a dozen countries across the world. It controls territories in Iraq and Syria. However, the group has lost much of the territory it controlled in Iraq and Syria at the height of its expansion in 2014.
Who is fighting back?
The US leads an international coalition of more than 50 countries, including several Arab nations. Russia, Iran and its Lebanese Shiite ally Hezbollah, which all support the Syrian government, also fight IS. Regional forces such as the Kurdish peshmerga (above) and US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters, fight IS on the ground. The Iraqi army and militia have pushed IS from large parts of the country.
Image: picture-alliance/abaca/H. Huseyin
How does it fund itself?
One of IS' main sources of income has been oil and gas. At one point, it controlled an estimated one-third of Syria's oil production. However, US-led airstrikes deliberately targeted oil resources and the Syrian government as well as US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters have retaken most oil wells. Other means of income include taxes, ransom, selling looted antiquities and extortion.
Image: Getty Images/J. Moore
Where does it carry out attacks?
IS has claimed responsibility for numerous terrorist attacks across the globe. The militant group has targeted capitals across the EU, including Berlin, Brussels and Paris. IS leaders have encouraged so-called "lone wolf" attacks, whereby individuals who support IS carry out terrorist acts without the direct involvement of the group.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/M. Spingler
What other tactics does it use?
The group uses various tactics to expand its power. IS fighters have looted and destroyed historical artifacts in Syria and Iraq in an attempt at "cultural cleansing." The group has also enslaved thousands of women from religious minority groups, including Yazidis. IS also uses a sophisticated social network to distribute propaganda and recruit sympathizers.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Eid
How has it impacted the region?
IS has further exacerbated the ongoing Syrian conflict. Millions of Syrians and Iraqis have fled their homes, many traveling to Europe in pursuit of refuge. Although it has lost all of its strongholds, the militant group has left extraordinary destruction in its wake. Areas affected by the militant group's rule will likely take years to rebuild.
