US, France agree on 'concrete steps' against IS: Pentagon

The recent statement has provided no details on the measures to be taken

WASHINGTON: The defense ministers of France and the United States agreed on Sunday on "concrete steps" to intensify cooperation against the Islamic State group, the Pentagon said.

US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and French Defense Minister Jean-Yves le Drian discussed the actions they are taking in response to Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris that killed at least 129 people.

"They agreed on concrete steps the US and French militaries should take to further intensify our close cooperation in prosecuting a sustained campaign against ISIL," Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said.



"Secretary Carter reiterated the firm commitment of the United States to support France and move together to ensure ISIL is dealt a lasting defeat," he said.

The statement provided no details on the measures to be taken. But US officials said it would build on coordination already being handled by a French two star general at the US Central Command, which oversees US military operations in the Middle East.

France already takes part in a US-led campaign of air strikes against Islamic State strongholds in Syria and Iraq.



The US deputy national security adviser, Ben Rhodes, said the United States and France also will be intensifying intelligence sharing following the attacks in the French capital by gunmen in suicide vests.