France to maintain military presence in Iraq as long as necessary: Macron

PARIS, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- France will maintain its military commitment in Iraq until the Islamic State (IS) was completely defeated and as long as necessary, President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday.

France, the second leading force in U.S.-led coalition against IS, was determined to remain engaged in the war against the terrorist group until its "total defeat."

"We will continue till the end and as long that the Iraqi officials will consider it essential," he added at a joint press conference with Iraq's Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi in Paris.

France was the first European country to join United States-led coalition in September 2014 to strike Islamist militants at the request of Iraqi authorities.