Turkey, U.S. ready for anti-IS operation in Syria

ANKARA, Turkey, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Turkey and the United States will begin aerial strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria, the Turkish foreign minister confirmed.

Mevlut Cavusoglu said diplomatic talks concluded Sunday, adding, "The military officials have also signed this agreement. How the joint operations will be realized is a matter of the military and its related institutions."

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, the United Kingdom and France are expected to participate in providing air cover to an offensive in which Syrian militant groups regarded as moderates will attempt to remove IS forces from an identified area of territory on the Syrian border.

U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby adamantly defended Turkey Monday against suggestions it has been slow to involve itself in helping to defeat the Islamic State.

"They've allowed us (the United States) to use airbases now. They're going to soon be flying in the coalition air tasking order, you know, inside the coalition planning cycle for air ops, and yet I continue to get questions up here, that you know, why they aren't doing more; why aren't they doing enough. Here's a nation that has two million refugees from Syria that it's taking care of."