Sweden Ready to Assist France in Fight Against Islamic State

Sweden has responded to France's call on European Union to help the country in its fight against the Islamic State (IS) extremist group, Swedish Interior Minister Anders Ygeman said Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Islamic State claimed responsibility for the November 13 deadly attacks across Paris, which left some 130 people dead and about 350 injured.

"Of course, Sweden is ready to assist France in the given situation. We stand side by side with France. The exact form the assistance will take depends on what is agreed upon after talks with France," Ygeman said in an interview on Sveriges radio.

The minister said that Sweden's role in efforts against the IS would depend on what France was asking for and what Sweden was able to do.

"For now, we will assist France with information and with its investigation of Friday's Paris attacks," Ygeman said.

Sweden's response comes after France’s first invocation of Article 42.7 of the Lisbon Treaty, obliging EU member states to help the country that is victim of armed aggression, which took place after the Paris attacks.

After the attacks, France launched airstrikes on the IS jihadist group stronghold in Raqqa. The Rafale and Mirage 2000 fighter jets dropped 16 bombs in an overnight attack coordinated with US forces.