NATO won't send ground troops

NATO has ruled out sending ground troops to fight against Islamic State militants in Syria, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a Swiss newspaper, stressing the need to bolster local forces in the conflict.

"That is not on the agenda of the coalition and the NATO allies," he told the Tages-Anzeiger paper when asked about sending ground forces to accompany airstrikes.

"The United States has a limited number of special forces. In the foreground, however, is strengthening local forces. This is not easy, but it's the only option," he added.