Merkel: No Discussion by US, Four EU Leaders on Boosting Military in Syria

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the increase of military presence in Syria was not discussed at the talks at German Hannover's Herrenhausen Palace between the US, UK, German, French and Italian leaders.

BERLIN (Sputnik) – The issue of increasing military presence in Syria was not discussed at an informal meeting of the US, UK, German, French and Italian leaders, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday.

On Sunday, US President Barack Obama arrived in Germany for bilateral talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel. The chancellor used the occasion to invite the four European leaders in Hannover to discuss major international issues on Monday.

"We haven't discussed this in this sense," Merkel told reporters after the talks at German Hannover's Herrenhausen Palace.

"I think it is clear that everyone should take part [in the conflict settlement], but the major emphasis today was put on the political solution and on how to move in this direction," the German chancellor added.

"We have talked about it [the fight against IS] in relation to Iraq and Syria, we will continue to closely coordinate our actions, Germany is also involved in this process," Merkel said.

Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, with forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting several opposition factions and extremist groups, such as the Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) and Nusra Front, both outlawed in Russia.

The US-led coalition of over 60 nations has been carrying out airstrikes in Syria and Iraq against Daesh since 2014.