US President Barack Obama will stand in solidarity with his French counterpart Francois Hollande at the White House, less than two weeks after the Islamic State group launched a series of deadly attacks in Paris.

But Mr Hollande is likely to leave Washington without firm backing for his call to bring Russia into a new coalition to fight the extremists.

His visit to Washington is part of a diplomatic offensive to strengthen the campaign against Islamic State, which was behind the November 13 attacks in Paris and is blamed for separate assaults in Lebanon and Turkey and the downing of a Russian plane in Egypt.

As the Islamic State group expands its reach, Mr Obama is facing increased pressure to ramp up American efforts against the militants.