NATO's secretary-general is urging alliance-member Turkey to show "restraint'' in its military push into northern Syria, adding that the common enemy in the region is still the Islamic State group.

Jens Stoltenberg avoided any direct criticism of the Turkish incursion, repeating a previous call on Ankara to "ensure that (its) actions in northern Syria are measured and proportionate and avoid even more human suffering.''

Stoltenberg spoke of the need to "continue to stand together in our common fight against the common enemy,'' the Islamic State group. While enormous progress has been made against the group, he said, "we must make sure that we preserve those gains.''

He spoke in Athens on Thursday after a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Stoltenberg will meet Turkey's leader in Istanbul on Friday.

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