WASHINGTON: US and French defence chiefs on Thursday discussed the possibility of France taking part in the American-led air war against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said.
But his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, would not confirm or deny that the subject came up during his talks at the Pentagon.
"Yes, we did discuss possibilities of France's involvement in Syria," Hagel said at a joint news conference.
The talks in Washington came as IS militants in Syria closed in on a key town near the Turkish border, Kobane, despite US air strikes in support of besieged Kurdish fighters.
France is one of five European countries that have committed aircraft to the campaign in Iraq but none of them are involved in the US-led air attacks on IS in neighbouring Syria. Five Arab countries are participating in the American-led bombing raids there.
France has provided weapons to Syrian rebels fighting both the Damascus regime and the IS group.
Le Drian said France was participating in air strikes against IS in Iraq because Baghdad had made a formal request under the UN charter.
"France is there because of that request. And we are in the coalition because of that request," he said.
Pressed again on the Syria issue by French journalists after the news conference, Le Drian said: "I cannot answer a question that was not asked."
The minister has previously suggested that Paris had not ruled out an eventual role in the Syria campaign.
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