(VOVOworld) – The world's top diplomats have pledged to support Iraq in its fight against Islamic State militants by "any means necessary", including "appropriate military assistance". 

Iraqi President Fouad Massoum and French President Francois Hollande shake hands ahead of Paris conference. (Photo: ETIENNE LAURENT/EPA)

Representatives from 29 countries and international organisations, including the UN Security Council, gathered in Paris on Monday and declared that IS extremists "a threat not only to Iraq but also to the entire international community". Participants underscored the urgent need to remove the IS from Iraq, where it controls some 40% of the territory.

Parties involved agreed to cooperate and do everything possible to ensure that IS criminals are brought to justice.