US-Turkey militaries to talk strategy on IS

A joint US-Turkish military team is set to meet next week in Ankara, after Washington pressed Turkey to join a US-led coalition against "Islamic State" (IS).

Top envoys from both countries who met on Thursday agreed to the meeting, as Washington seeks the help of its key regional ally against the group controlling large swathes of Iraq and Syria.

US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the two countries held "detailed and constructive talks," but she did not outline any specific commitments made by Turkey.

Retired general John Allen was said to have been at the initial discussions with Turkish officials, as well as deputy envoy Brett McGurk. The two were said to have "emphasized that urgent steps are immediately required to degrade (IS) military capabilities and ongoing ability to threaten the region."

Psaki said: "a joint military planning team will visit Ankara early next week to follow up in military-to-military channels."

"Both sides also agreed that we will continue a dynamic and deepening bilateral consultation process across the multiple lines of effort against ISIL."

Turkey 'not going it alone'

Turkey's foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said it was not realistic to expect Turkey to conduct a ground operation on its own, despite the Turkish parliament giving approval for military force to be used if necessary.

"We are holding talks ... Once there is a common decision, Turkey will not hold back from playing its part," Cavusoglu told a news conference.

Turkey says it would play a role as part of an expanded operation that also targeted troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Ankara government also wants a no-fly zone over Syria and a buffer zone across the border.

More strikes, but IS makes gains

The US conducted nine airstrikes near Kobani on Thursday, as "Islamic State" (IS) militants appeared to establish a foothold in parts of the town.

US Central Command said six airstrikes south of Kobani had hit a large IS unit as well as two small ones. In a statement, Central Command said it had destroyed a building that was being occupied by the militants, as well as a tank and heavy machine gun.

Three air strikes on the northern side of Kobani were said to have targeted two smaller IS units, destroying two buildings that the militants were apparently occupying.

Despite the airstrikes, fighters from IS were reported to have made significant advances within the town on Thursday, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Rami Abdulrahman, head of the monitoring group, said IS now "control more than a third of Kobani - all eastern areas, a small part of the northeast and an area in the southeast."

The commander of Kobani's beleaguered Kurdish defenders confirmed the militants had made major gains.

Militia chief Esmat al-Sheikh told the Reuters news agency that the area controlled by IS was about a quarter of the town. "The clashes are ongoing - street battles," he said by telephone.

rc/lw (AP, Reuters, AFP)