Macron slams Assad for comments on France supporting terror

PARIS – French president Emmanuel Macron hit back on Tuesday at Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad's allegations that France supported terrorism in Syria, insisting that the US-led international coalition should be credited for the military successes against the Islamic State.

Speaking after a meeting with NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, Macron said that Assad's comments were "unacceptable" because France's priority is "the war against Daesh," using an Arabic term for the group.

"If anyone has fought, and can win by the end of February against Daesh, it's the international coalition," Macron said. "All others have been ambiguous. All others have had priorities, which were targeting political opposition, and not the terrorists."