France urges U.S. to stay in fight against Islamists in Africa's Sahel

FILE PHOTO: French soldiers of the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment conduct an area control operation in the Gourma region during the Operation Barkhane in Ndaki, Mali, July 27, 2019. Picture taken July 27, 2019. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo

PARIS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - France hopes "good sense" will prevail and the United States will not slash support for French military operations in West Africa, where groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State are expanding their foothold.

Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian made the appeal as Defence Minister Florence Parly was due to meet U.S. counterparts on Monday to discuss the crisis in the Sahel, a band of scrubland south of the Sahara.