Coalition pledges to intensify air strikes against ISIS

French President François Hollande announced on 21 January that airstrikes against ISIS will be accelerated. Defence ministers and officials from the seven-nation coalition fighting ISIS met in the French capital on 20 January to discuss strategy. The coalition is escalating its activities in an attempt to take advantage of the recent territorial losses that ISIS has suffered. Following the talks, US Defence Secretary Ash Carter revealed that there had been broad agreement on a co-ordinated plan to battle ISIS in the coming year, with the focus on retaking key cities. French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian argued that Raqqa (ISIS’s self-proclaimed capital) and Mosul had to be won back, but said that this would only happen if the coalition could secure the support of local forces on the ground.

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French President Francois Hollande has said a coalition involved in a bombing campaign against Isis will "accelerate" air strikes.

"The pace of the interventions will be accelerated and France will play its role in this," Mr Hollande said in a New Year's address to French and foreign ambassadors on Thursday, AFP reports.

Mr Hollande said any political negotiation to end the Syrian crisis needed to provide clarity on the future leadership of the country.

He added Paris was ready to train Libyan security forces once a government was fully in place and warned the power vacuum in Lebanon needed to be resolved urgently.

The announcement comes after defence chiefs in France pledged to intensify their fight against Isis in an effort to take advantage of recent battlefield gains against the terror group.

Ministers from the United States, Britain and four other countries also agreed to escalate their campaign against Isis, during talks in Paris on Wednesday.

At a news conference with French Defence Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, US Defence Secretary, Ash Carter, said there was broad agreement on a co-ordinated plan to battle Isis over the next year and re-take key cities under the militants' control.

British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria Show all 10 1 / 10 British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A Tornado jet takes off from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, as RAF Tornado jets carried out the first British bombing runs over Syria British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria Pilots and ground crew prepare combat aircraft Panavia Tornados at RAF Marham at RAF Marham, UK Getty British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A Eurofighter Typhoon jet takes off from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, as RAF Tornado jets carried out the first British bombing runs over Syria British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A RAF Tornado arrives at RAF Akrotiri to begin operations in Akrotiri British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A Tornado jet ahead of taking off from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, as RAF Tornado jets carried out the first British bombing runs over Syria, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. The air strikes were carried out within hours of a vote by MPs in the Commons to back extending operations against Isis from neighbouring Iraq British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria Personnel work on a British Tornado after it returned from a mission at RAF Akrotiri in southern Cyprus British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria Two RAF Tornado GR4's, both with remaining weapons ordnance, approach RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, as they return to the base after carrying out some of the first British bombing runs over Syria British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A RAF Tornado takes off from RAF Akrotiri, on the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A Tornado jet leaving RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria AKA RAF Tornado arrives at RAF Akrotiri to begin operations in Akrotiri, Cyprus. The RAF has sent two further Tornado aircraft and six Typhoons to bolster aircraft now flying sorties to both Iraq and Syria

"Raqqa and Mosul must be won back," Mr Le Drian said, adding it can only succeed if the coalition supports the local forces on the ground in Iraq and Syria.