Pentagon asks Turkey to step up fight against ISIL

Turkey must fully assume its role in the US airstrike campaign against the Islamic State and better control its border with Syria, the US Secretary of Defense assessed on Thursday, reports the Patria News Agency.

The country, which recently joined the coalition in fighting the ultra-radical group, needs to cede its planes to the military structure coordinating the strikes known as the "air tasking order" or ATO, said Ashton Carter.

"They need to join NATO and do more to control their border. We have made that clear," he told reporters.

Turkish leaders "themselves said that this must be done." "There has been a delay, as the campaign began a year ago, but they are now making great efforts," he pointed out.

Last month, Turkey went a step further in fighting IS by allowing the US Air Force to use its Incirlik base to bomb the group's positions in Syria.

However, its participation remains limited, and Turkey appears to be focused on fighting Kurdish rebels from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The Islamic State, Carter believes, can still bring in soldiers and equipment across the Turkish-Syrian border.

"I don't think they lack goodwill," he added regarding Turkish leaders, and the fact that they allowed access to their base is "important, but not enough," writes Index.