Francois Hollande Says Air Strikes Against Islamic State in Syria 'Necessary'

Paris: French President Francois Hollande, whose country is carrying out surveillance flights over Syria, said on Monday it would be "necessary" to carry out air strikes against Islamic State militants there.

"We announced surveillance flights that would allow us to prepare air strikes if they were necessary, and they will be necessary in Syria," he told journalists after a meeting with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.