NATO launched anti-Islamic State surveillance flights
NAN-F-5
Surveillance
Brussels, Oct. 25, 2016 (dpa/NAN) North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), has began operating surveillance flights in support of the international coalition fighting the Islamic State extremist group in Syria and Iraq, alliance Chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday.
Report says that the trans-Atlantic military alliance had long been wary of direct involvement in the campaign.
However, it agreed at its Warsaw summit in July to assist with Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) surveillance plans and military trainers.
“The first NATO AWACS flight in support of the coalition fighting ISIL took place on Oct. 20,” Stoltenberg said using an acronym for the Islamist group.
He said that “Several” more sorties will take place, without going into detail.
“The operation will help supply “a better air picture and also provides surveillance and information” to the coalition air forces.
“This would help increase air safety in the “complex and complicated” situation over Syria and Iraq, he noted.
The planes, equipped with modern radar and communications technology, can observe aerial manoeuvres over the conflict zone from Turkish or international airspace,’’ Stoltenberg said.
Germany, which is to provide 15 to 20 soldiers around a third of the staff for the AWACS fleet of 16 planes is not yet participating in the operation as parliament has not yet given its approval.
Report says the Bundestag vote is planned for November.
Stoltenberg also announced that NATO’s training of Iraqi soldiers, currently taking place in neighbouring Jordan, will be expanded into Iraq itself “in the coming months.” (dpa/NAN)
Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Julius Enehikhuere