Riyadh, (IINA) - Saudi Arabia stated on Thursday that it is prepared to deploy ground troops to Syria in order to fight Daesh (the so called ISIS) if the U.S-led coalition leaders agreed to the offer, Al-Jazeera reported.

Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri noted that Saudi Arabia’s air force has targeted ISIS with airstrikes since the campaign began in September 2014, and that the Kingdom is now ready to provide ground troops to defeat the armed terrorist group.

"Today, the Kingdom announced its readiness to participate with ground troops with the U.S-led coalition against ISIS, because we now have the experience in Yemen", Asseri said. "We know that air strikes cannot be enough and that a ground operation is needed. We need to combine both to achieve better results on the ground".

The Saudi offer is expected to be discussed when the U.S convenes a meeting of defense ministers from coalition countries fighting ISIS in Brussels next week.

Lawrence Korb, a former U.S assistant secretary of defense, said while Middle East countries have armed and supplied rebels during the five-year Syrian civil war, putting boots on the ground would mark a significant shift.

He noted it may also signal to Russia, whose air power has greatly aided President Bashar al-Assad's recent major military gains, the need to return to Geneva peace negotiations that were postponed this week.

U.S Defense Secretary Ashton Carter welcomed the Saudi offer to participate in ground operations in Syria. He added that increased activity by other countries would make it easier for the U.S to accelerate its fight against ISIS. "That kind of news is very welcome," he told reporters late Thursday.

AG/IINA