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U.S., French presidents discuss counterterrorism cooperation in wake of San Bernardino shooting

Xinhua, December 6, 2015 Adjust font size:

U.S. President Barack Obama on Saturday held a phone conversation with his French counterpart Francois Hollande on the recent shooting rampage in San Bernardino, California, while pledging continued U.S.-France cooperation on fighting terrorism.

Obama briefed Hollande on what the U.S. knew about the attack and steps taken by U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies to investigate the case, the White House said in a statement.

A couple armed with assault weapons on Wednesday opened fire at a Southern California social services center, killing 14 people and injuring 21 others.

The motive for the shooting remained unknown, but U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation announced Friday it was now investigating the case as an act of terrorism. It was found that Tashfeen Malik, the female shooter, had pledged allegiance to the extremist group Islamic State (IS) on social media.

Obama accepted condolences that Hollande offered to the U.S. people for the loss of life in the attack, the White House said.

The two leaders "pledged continued cooperation between our two governments and with those of our allies and friends to fight terrorism, both abroad and at home," the White House added.

The two presidents just held a summit on Nov. 24 at the White House after the Nov. 13 massive terror attacks carried out by the IS in Paris, in which 130 people were killed and more than 350 others were wounded.

They vowed to boost cooperation on fighting terrorism, expressing the determination to destroy the IS, which has taken over swaths of land in Iraq and Syria. The U.S.-led coalition, which includes France, has been launching airstrikes against IS targets in the region. Enditem