France's foreign minister says air strikes against Islamic State (IS) extremists will be effective only if there is political reconciliation in Iraq.
Laurent Fabius said the Iraqi population conquered by the extremists will not rise up against them "unless there is a feeling that the government is inclusive."
Fabius was speaking in Germany on June 1, a day ahead of an international conference to tackle the problem of IS.
Analysts say Iraq's government has faced criticism for alienating Sunni Muslims, and French and U.S. officials are impatient with what they see as sluggish efforts at reconciliation.
IS militants seized Ramadi, the capital of the country's largest Sunni province of Anbar, after Iraqi forces fled in disarray.
Fabius drew the line at sending in French forces, saying Iraq's army had to do its own fighting.