U.S. welcomes German security plan for Syria, unlikely to take part

U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison briefs the media ahead of a NATO defence ministers meeting at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, October 2, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The United States and NATO cautiously welcomed on Wednesday a German proposal for a security zone in northern Syria, though Washington's envoy to the alliance saying it should be for Europe to take charge and not U.S. forces.

Germany, traditionally a reluctant partner in foreign missions, has aired a plan to create the zone to protect displaced civilians and ensure the fight continues against Islamic State militants, although details are still vague.