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Outgoing French foreign minister raps US Syria role

Published: 09:51 EST, 10 February 2016 | Updated: 09:51 EST, 10 February 2016

Outgoing French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on Wednesday criticised the US role in Syria, saying he did not see "a very strong commitment" from Washington.

"There are ambiguities... You don't get the feeling that there is a very strong commitment," Fabius told reporters shortly before announcing that he was stepping down after nearly four years as foreign minister.

His remarks came as Syrian forces, backed by Russia and Iran, were besieging the divided northern city of Aleppo.

US launched its Syria bombing campaign against Islamic State group targets in 2014 ©Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel (US Air Force/AFP)

"There are words, but actions are something else," said Fabius, whose country is a member of the US-led coalition bombarding the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

"Obviously, as the Russians and the Iranians sense that, they have understood... and (Syrian President) Bashar al-Assad is regaining strength," Fabius said.

The outgoing foreign minister also took aim at Moscow, repeating a charge that Russian air strikes are targeting "moderate" opposition groups more than IS.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius (left) and US Secretary of State John Kerry speak to the press following a 2014 meeting at the Quai d'Orsay in Paris ©Nicholas Kamm (Pool/AFP)