Hollande says coalition battle in Iraq prevents terrorism at home

Supporting military operations against the Islamic State group is key to preventing terror attacks at home, French President Francois Hollande said on Monday during his one-day visit to Iraq.

Hollande had already visited in 2014 and remains the most prominent head of state to come to Iraq since the launch two and half years ago of a US-led coalition against the extremists.

"Taking action against terrorism here in Iraq is also preventing acts of terrorism on our own soil," he said at a base of Iraq's elite Counter-Terrorism Service near Baghdad.