Turkey ‘Can Do More’ in Anti-IS Fight, Says Carter

On Wednesday, Defense chiefs from the U.S., Britain, France and other allied countries said they will intensify their fight against the extremist group of Islamic State (ISIS).

“Every nation must come prepared to discuss further contributions to the fight and I will not hesitate to engage and challenge current and prospective members of the coalition as we go forward”, he said.

He also said that the US’ allies in the fight against Daesh “can do more”, adding that the terrorist group needs to be defeated in the Iraqi Mosul and it’s so-called capital in Syria’s Raqqa.

Carter urged the coalition to seize the opportunity now to hasten the terrorist group’s defeat. Coalition nations conducting strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

Speaking on the third day of the forum with Klaus Schwab, founder of the global organization for public-private cooperation, the secretary got right to the point of his trip to Europe this week, where he has been in discussions with his counterparts in the more than 60-nation U.S.-led coalition against ISIL.

“I do believe that Turkey can do more, and therefore the kind of campaign plan I was discussing with other ministers… would very, very much benefit from a stronger effort by Turkey”, he added.

Le Drian and Carter both said military cooperation with Russia was impossible as long as Russian planes were attacking Syrian rebel groups that are opposed to the Islamic State.

The militant group, which also controls large parts of neighboring Syria, has committed widespread abuses that may “in some instances, amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and possibly genocide”, the report said.

Six of the strikes in Iraq were near Ramadi, hitting three Islamic State tactical units and an IS building. This war takes place in Syria, Iraq, Libya….

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey was determined to dislodge IS jihadists fully from the Syrian border, which analysts says they have controlled for much of a year ago. There are many other members of the coalition, many of whom who have made contributions, and many of whom can make greater contributions…. “That is a strategic intention that we have”.

The policy shift is a turnaround from the Obama’s White House’s previous stance of not deploying combat troops in Iraq and one sure to shape the foreign policy debate in the 2016 election.

In Afghanistan, all states in the region need to realize that “terrorism is a common threat”, said Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

“I want to commend Mr Le Drian for his steadfast leadership, particularly in the campaign to deliver ISIL a lasting defeat”, he said.