Turkey and U.S. reportedly agree to carve out 'ISIS-free zone' along Syria's Turkish border

The U.S. has reached a preliminary agreement with Turkey to create an "Islamic State–free zone" along a 60-mile strip on the Syrian side of the border with Turkey, from outside Aleppo to the Euphrates River, The New York Times and Washington Post report, citing U.S. and Turkish officials. The agreement comes after a week of notably stepped-up Turkish involvement in the fight against ISIS, and a few days before an emergency NATO meeting Turkey has called to deal with its threat next door.

Turkish and Syrian opposition leaders are suggesting that the area could turn into a long-sought "safe zone" where Syrian refugees could resettle while the U.S. and its allies help fend off ISIS and the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The U.S. says that isn't part of the agreement. "Details remain to be worked out, but what we are talking about with Turkey is cooperating to support partners on the ground in northern Syria who are countering ISIL," or ISIS, a senior Obama administration official said. "The goal is to establish an ISIL-free zone and ensure greater security and stability along Turkey's border with Syria."

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says that his country's involvement in the ISIS fight "can change the game in Syria, Iraq, and the entire region," but that Turkey won't send in ground troops. That means the U.S. and Turkey will have to rely on Syrian opposition fighters, many of whom have various levels of Islamist militancy leanings, adding a new wrinkle to the U.S.-led battle against ISIS. The plan also will probably put U.S. and coalition fighter jets in closer proximity to Assad's aircraft.

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