France convinced Trump to stay in Syria, says Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron said France's air strikes in Syria in response to an alleged chemical attack were not a declaration of war against the Damascus regime. [Photo: Courtesy]

French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday that Paris had convinced Donald Trump to stay engaged in Syria "for the long-term", but just hours later the White House responded by saying it wanted US forces there "to come home as quickly as possible".

A day after France joined the United States and Britain in launching unprecedented strikes against regime targets, Macron insisted the intervention was legitimate and urged international powers to push for a diplomatic solution to the brutal seven-year war.