Macron meets Syrian Kurds, vows France’s support in fight against extremists in Syria

President Emmanuel Macron on Friday hosted representatives of the Kurdish-led force that defeated Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) extremists in Syria, promising France’s support in the fight against the remaining militants. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had in late March flushed out IS from their last bastion in Syria but has warned that the militant group remains a threat in places. Macron assured the SDF representatives, who were not named, of the “active support of France in the fight against [IS] which continues to be a menace for collective security,” AFP reports, citing the presidency. Macron also vowed that financial support would be allocated to “respond to the humanitarian needs and the socio-economic stabilization of civilian populations in Syria.”