Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called French Minister of Defense Jean-Yves Le Drian yesterday to discuss France’s contributions to the fight against the spread of Ebola and their counterterrorism efforts in North Africa, Iraq and Syria, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said in a statement issued yesterday.
Kirby’s statement reads as follows:
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel spoke via telephone with the French Minister of Defense Jean-Yves Le Drian today. The two leaders spoke about the international response to Ebola in West Africa, counterterrorism operations in North Africa, and the coalition response to ISIL in Iraq and Syria.
Secretary Hagel welcomed the French commitment to expand its efforts to assist with the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
The two ministers talked about ways to improve information sharing in dealing with extremists in the Sahel and had an extended discussion on the coalition response to counter ISIL, where French and U.S forces are working closely together -- in concert with other coalition partners -- to degrade ISIL's capabilities and effectiveness.