Assistance and support for France

Brussels (dpa) - France is seeking assistance from other EU countries for military operations it is carrying out in Syria and elsewhere, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian says, after his nation invoked for the first time an EU mutual defence clause.

Help could come in the form of "either cooperation on capacities for the French interventions in Syria or Iraq, or by relief for or support to France in other operations," Le Drian says after meeting with his EU counterparts, who he says all pledged to help.

"France can no longer do everything - be at the same in the Sahel, the Central African Republic, Lebanon, be in the counterattack operation in the Levant and on top of that ensure with our own forces the security of the national territory," Le Drian adds.

German Defense Minister Ursula Von der Leyen, commenting on France's request for EU assistance, said the German government will carefully analyse the issue. "It goes without saying that we will do everything in our power to provide assistance and support," von der Leyen said.

France will hold technical discussions with other EU member states to specify the kind of assistance it will receive. The mutual defence clause, contained in article 42.7 of the EU treaty, states that the bloc's countries have "an obligation of aid and assistance" if a member state is "the victim of armed aggression on its territory."