French FM Laurent Fabius  has for the first time mentioned that the troops of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad can be used to fight ISIS, France 24 reports, citing Radio Television Luxembourg (RTL).

His Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem welcomed this statement today.

“Fighting ISIS has two ways: bombardment and land forces. These can’t be our forces, but those of the Free Syrian Army, Sunni Arabs and, why not, the regime [can do this],” he said.

This statement sharply stands out against the backdrop of the official statements by Paris since the beginning of the Syrian conflict.  

Fabius told France Press that the participation of Assad’s Army in fighting ISIS should be considered “only in the context of the transition period of government and not otherwise.”