(VOVworld) – French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian arrived in Baghdad Monday on an unannounced visit for talks with Iraqi officials on the war against IS.

French minister of defense Jean-Yves Le Drian (Photo by: AFP)

At a meeting with President Fuad Masum and parliament speaker Salim al-Juburi,  Le Drian discussed the campaign against IS, in which France is playing a major role. He also met with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi. Le Drian will also visit French troops during his trip to Iraq.

France is part of a US-led coalition that is carrying out airstrikes against IS and providing training and other assistance to Iraqi and Syrian forces. According to the French military, France has carried out more than 580 strikes against IS and destroyed over 1,000 targets. Approximately 350 French soldiers have been deployed to Iraq.