Ankara – Turkish and U.S. delegates on Wednesday discussed the threat posed by the Islamic State (IS) in Syria and Iraq, local news reported.
According to the report, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu is leading the Turkish delegation.
Turkey reinforced its military presence at the Turkish-Syrian border on Thursday, accompanied by local media reports of a possible Turkish intervention in Syria.
The U.S. delegation, including President Obama’s special envoys in the fight against IS, Gen. John Allen and Christine Wormuth, undersecretary of defense policy, are holding talks with Turkish officials.
Washington urged Ankara to take strong action against IS militants, including the use of Incirlik Airbase for the coalition forces’ military operations.
Report says Turkey is hesitant to allow U.S. military aircraft’s use of its Incirlik Airbase to launch air strikes into Syria, before an agreement is declared.
However, the U.S. abstained from this bold move, stressing tremendous risks and requirements for sophisticated and challenging logistical tasks.
Following the advance of Syrian Kurds into IS-controlled Tal Abyad town in Syria, Turkish local media reported that the government is seeking long-range artillery against IS positions in Syrian territories during air and land operations into Syria, to secure a strip along the Turkish border. (Xinhua/NAN)