France’s President Hollande in Moscow Urges ‘Grand Coalition’ Against ISIS

French President Francois Hollande told Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Thursday world powers must create a “grand coalition” to combat ISIS militants who control swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq.

 

Hollande is on a diplomatic offensive to build a common front against the militant Islamist group that has claimed responsibility for the attacks in Paris on Nov. 13 that killed 130 people.

 

ISIS has also said it downed a Russian plane on Oct. 31 over the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, killing all 224 people on board.

 

“Our enemy is Daesh, Islamic State, it has territory, an army and resources, so we must create this large coalition to hit these terrorists,” Hollande said in televised remarks at the start of bilateral talks with the Russian leader in the Kremlin.

 

Read More: France’s President Hollande in Moscow Urges ‘Grand Coalition’ Against ISIS – NBC News