FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a news conference at the end of the European Union leaders summit dominated by Brexit, in Brussels, Belgium October 18, 2019. REUTERS/Johanna Geron

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is a hard blow for Islamic State but that it is just a stage in the fight against the organization.

“Al-Baghdadi’s death is a hard blow against Islamic State, but it is just a stage. With our partners in the international coalition, the fight continues to finally defeat this terrorist organization. It is our priority in the Middle East,” Macron said on his Twitter feed.