US, allies agree to intensify fight against Islamic State


              French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, center, gestures next to German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, left, and U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter after posing for a picture during a meeting at the Defense Ministry in Paris, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016. Defense chiefs from seven countries meet in Paris to plan to intensify the fight against Islamic State group extremists. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)
French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, center, gestures next to German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, left, and U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter after posing for a picture during a meeting at the Defense Ministry in Paris, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016. Defense chiefs from seven countries meet in Paris to plan to intensify the fight against Islamic State group extremists. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)

PARIS (AP) - Defense Secretary Ash Carter says defense ministers from France and five other nations have agreed to intensify the campaign against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. He says the countries will work together to fill the military requirements as the fight unfolds over the coming months.

Carter was speaking at a press conference with France's Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, after a working lunch with five other defense ministers, mainly from Europe.

They are mapping out the coordinated campaign against IS over the next year. Carter and Le Drian co-hosted the meeting with ministers from France, Australia, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Carter also is announcing that all 26 nations in the anti-IS coalition and Iraq will meet in Brussels next month to continue the talks.

Upcoming Events