"We will need military efforts [in Syria], but military efforts will not bring a solution, we need a political process. Russia and the United States can play an important role, and also Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as Germany, France, Great Britain," Merkel told the German broadcaster Deutschlandradio in an interview aired Sunday.
Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011. The country’s government is fighting a number of opposition forces, as well as radical Islamist militant organizations, including the Nusra Front and the Islamic State.
On Wednesday, Russia launched airstrikes on ISIL positions in Syria at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad. According to the Kremlin, Russia intends to use only the country's air force in its operations against ISIL militants in Syria and will not deploy ground troops.
