Turkey and the US will agree plans to provide air cover to Syrian rebels in an attempt to clear Islamic State militants from a strip of land on the Turkish border, reports Reuters.
Speaking to Turkish TV, prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that the aim was to provide air cover for moderate Syrian rebels fighting Islamic State militants, adding,
“What we have no is air coverage so they can gain control of that region from Daesh (Islamic State) and support the moderate opposition so they can gain control of the region.”
US officials said that discussions with Turkey were continuing to decide the size and scope of the buffer zone in the US.
“The goal is to establish an ISIL free zone and ensure greater security and stability along Turkey’s border with Syria” said a senior Obama administration official.
Turkey conducts airstrikes against Islamic State in Syria (24 July 2015)