France's President Francois Hollande
France's President Francois Hollande Reuters

France has responded to the call of U.S. President Barack Obama to unleash an expanded airstrike against ISIS targets in Syria and Iraq.

However, the country would like to seek first as to what kind of role it will exactly delve into in the U.S.-led coalition. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said France wants to particularly participate in the conduct of airstrikes.

"We will participate, if necessary, in military air action," the AP quoted Fabius.

France relayed its support to an airstrike against the ISIS hours before U.S. President Barak Obama delivered his televised address at 9 pm EDT. In it, he unveiled his strategy "to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL."

But Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Mr Obama to err on the safe side and seek first the approval of Syrian President Bashar Assad before launching any airstrikes, otherwise the moves of the American leader would be considered a support to terrorism.

Read: ISIS US Strike Countdown: Consult Damascus First, or Matters Will only Worsen in Syria - Lavrov

At last week's NATO Summit in Wales, French President Francois Hollande said France is willing to participate in the actions and efforts to exterminate ISIS "provided there's the political framework and respect for international law."

Fabius said they prefer to help the coalition through the air because they don't trust Mr Assad to be a partner on the ground. This effectively states that France would be sending troops on the ground to Iraq.

"Syria is complicated. We aren't going to send a letter asking Assad for help. He is not a credible partner, he is complicit to Islamic State," Reuters quoted an unidentified senior French diplomat.

Fabius likewise maintained that France will continue to work with the moderate Syrian opposition as it fights the Islamic State and Assad at the same time. He believed the transnational danger could reach all the way to French soil. Hundred French radicals have reportedly left the country to join the jihadi fighters in Syria and Iraq.

Fabius feared they will stage attacks at home, fueled by their violent skills.

Fabius likewise called on the global populace not to use the term "Islamic" because he said this creates confusion between Islam, Islamist and Muslim.