GETTY•AP Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke about the need for Muslims to lead the fight

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General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said majority-Christian nations in the West should not bear the burden of another war in the Middle East. He told a Swiss newspaper: "Muslims are on the front line in this war. "Most victims are Muslims, and most of those who fight against the IS are Muslims.

"We cannot carry on this struggle for them."

We cannot carry on this struggle for them Jens Stoltenberg

But he added: "This is not a war between the West and the Islamic world, but against extremism and terrorism." Mr Stoltenberg continued that a troop deployment to tackle the barbaric militia group - also known as IS or Daesh - was "not on the agenda". Syria, he said, needed "local fighters" rather than Nato soldiers.

GETTY Protestors in America after the San Bernadino killings

GETTY Syrians walk on the debris of buildings after jets belonging to the Syrian Army launched airstrikes

The alliance is now planning to help Turkey to help improve its air defences after it shot down a Russian military jet last month. Mr Stoltenberg called on Russia to "play a more constructive role in the fight against IS".

He added: "So far, Russia has attacked other groups and focused on supporting the Assad regime. "Now it is important to de-escalate and to develop mechanisms to prevent similar incidents in the future. "We see a significant build-up of the Russian military presence from the far north to the Mediterranean. "There, too, we need to avoid similar incidents such as in Turkey."

Images show the deadly conflict in Syria Mon, March 13, 2017 Devastating images show the horrifying aftermath from the on-going war in Syria Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 98 Still image shows Russian Bastion coastal missile launchers launching Oniks missiles at unknown location in Syria

His comments came as the US President gave a rare public address from the Oval Office. Barack Obama said America would "overcome" the "cancer" of Islamic terrorism that seeks to "poison the minds" of people around the world. But he also faced criticism for failing to announce any significant shift in US strategy in the war on terror.

GETTY US President Barack Obama is seen through the window of the Oval Office

He implored Americans to not turn against Muslims at home, saying ISIS was driven by a desire to spark a war between the West and Islam. Still, he called on American Muslims to take up the cause of fighting extremism. The spread of radical Islam into American communities, he said, is "a real problem that Muslims must confront without excuse". He also reiterated his call for tougher gun control laws, calling it a matter of national security to prevent potential killers from getting guns.

Images show the deadly conflict in Syria Mon, March 13, 2017 Devastating images show the horrifying aftermath from the on-going war in Syria Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 98 Still image shows Russian Bastion coastal missile launchers launching Oniks missiles at unknown location in Syria