foreign official

Francois Hollande

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Francois Hollande: France's War Against ISIS and the Limits of Western Action in Syria

Hollande governed France during the peak of the Syrian crisis, called repeatedly for action against Assad, and saw his country attacked by ISIS fighters radicalized partly by the Syrian war. France was unable to prevent Assad's crimes or ISIS's rise. The Paris attacks of November 2015 brought the Syrian catastrophe home — literally.

Biography

François Hollande served as President of France from 2012 to 2017. His presidency coincided with the most intense phase of the Syrian civil war, and France was among the most vocal Western governments calling for international intervention and accountability for Assad's atrocities. Hollande repeatedly called for military action — most prominently after the Ghouta chemical attack of August 2013 — but was ultimately unable to act unilaterally when the U.S. backed down from its threatened strikes. France supported the Syrian opposition, provided assistance to the HNC, and pushed for Security Council referral to the ICC. France also bore the devastating cost of Syrian-conflict-linked terrorism: the November 2015 Paris attacks, claimed by ISIS, killed 130 people, directly triggering French military operations against ISIS in Syria. Hollande declared France 'at war' with ISIS following the attacks.

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Key Facts

Born:1954-08-12

Place:Rouen, France

Nationality:French