PARIS, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- France and the United States reaffirmed on Friday the France-U.S. alliance against security threats and the shared desire to fight the Islamic State (IS) group, particularly in Iraq and Syria.

During a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault stressed the importance of the "historic ties" between France and the United States characterized by "crucial cooperation in the area of security, in particular in the fight against terrorism," the French foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Ayrault and Tillerson reaffirmed the strength of the Franco-American alliance against the threat and the shared desire of the two countries to eradicate, in particular in Iraq and Syria where our two countries are fighting together Daech (IS)'s barbarism," said the statement.

This relationship is "fundamental in helping to resolve regional crises, particularly in the Middle East, the Near East and Ukraine," it added.

According to the statement, Ayrault invited Tillerson to visit France soon.