NATO not to join combat role against Daesh: Stoltenberg

The secretary general of the NATO has ruled out the possibility that the Western military alliance would help combat missions against Daesh if it joins the US-led coalition purportedly fighting the Takfiri terrorist group in Iraq and Syria.

According to Press TV, Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday that NATO members were discussing whether the organization should join the US-led coalition, but he insisted that the alliance would not participate in combat missions even if it agrees to be part of the drive.

Stoltenberg, who was briefing reporters in Brussels, said it was "absolutely out of the question for NATO to go into combat operations.”

He also noted that NATO members had yet to really reach an agreement to allow the alliance to join the coalition against Daesh even though all are individual members of the US-led campaign.

“No decision has been taken. The discussion is going on,” Stoltenberg said, reiterating that NATO would not bow to pressure by US President Donald Trump, who is seeking a greater role for NATO in the campaign against militants in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Trump is expected to hold a meeting with allied counterparts in Brussels on May 25.

NATO currently provides training and aerial surveillance support to the so-called US-led coalition in Iraq and Syria, while maintaining its military presence in Afghanistan nearly 16 years after it joined the invasion of the country.

Reports on Wednesday suggested that a top NATO general had recommended that the members accept Washington’s demand for joining the US-led coalition.

SS