NATO leaders agreed Saturday to provide surveillance planes and military trainers in support of the international coalition fighting the Islamic State extremist group in Syria and Iraq, after long being wary of direct involvement in the effort. "NATO has unique capabilities to make a difference," Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. "We will provide greater support to our partners, so they can secure their countries and push back against violent extremism." The military alliance's leaders agreed at a summit in Warsaw to send trainers back to Iraq, where NATO had been present from 2004 to 2011. A team will travel to Baghdad "soon" to start preparations, Stoltenberg said. NATO agreed a year ago to resume training Iraqi forces, but has so far carried this out only in neighbouring Jordan, offering advice on issues such as security sector reform, methods against explosive devices and military medicine. --ٍ؛ِ
