Macron Attends Iraq Summit to Ease Middle East Tensions

French President Emmanuel Macron stressed on Saturday, that the Iraq summit is important to achieve stability in the region.

Macron attended a regional summit in Iraq, with the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan and a deadly jihadist attack in Kabul overshadowing the meeting.

Macron warned that the IS group "remains a threat", speaking days after an affiliate of the jihadists claimed a deadly bombing in Kabul.

"We all know that we must not lower our guard because IS remains a threat, and I know that the fight against these terrorist groups is a priority of your government," the French president said, after a meeting with the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi in Baghdad.

Iraq seeks to play a "unifying role" to tackle crises shaking the region, sources close to the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi said.

"The French president aims to highlight France's role in the region and its determination to press the fight against terrorism," his office said.

"Macron considers Iraq "essential" to stability in the troubled Middle East," it added.