Turkey, US to Start Operation Against Islamic State in Syria

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday the United States and his country will soon launch air operations to drive out Islamic State militants from a territory in northern Syria, Reuters reported.

Cavusoglu told Reuters in an interview that the technical talks between Turkey and the US were concluded on Sunday, "and soon we will start this operation, comprehensive operations, against Daesh (Islamic State)."

He also said Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan, as well as Britain and France may also take part.

According to inside sources, Washington and Ankara plan to provide air cover for what the US sees as "moderate Syrian rebels as part of the operations, which aim to flush Islamic State from a rectangle of border territory roughly 80 km long", Reuters said.