'France doesn't rule out sending troops to fight IS'

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian Tuesday said dispatching French forces on the ground to fight Islamic State fighters in Iraq was possible as part of the international community efforts to curb terrorism in the region.

Asked by the local broadcaster Europe 1 if Paris intended to send ground troops in the conflict-torn Arab country, Le Drian said: "We'll not state how we are acting; we'll see when it will happen."

"France in the international coalition outlined at the NATO summit last week and it is in the process to take shape," Xinhua quoted him as adding.

According to medias reported "nothing was excluded" to quell militants of the Islamic State (IS) which recruited hundreds of young and radicalized French nationals who, local authorities said could pose threat to the country's security once returned home.

Last Friday at a NATO conference, French President Francois Hollande said France is "ready to take action provided there's the political framework and respect for international law".