WASHINGTON
U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said the U.S. officials have made significant progress in negotiations with Turkey on cooperation in the conflict in Syria and Iraq.
U.S. teams from European Command and Central Command will be in Turkey, next week, Hagel told reporters in a press conference after meeting with other world leaders.
"They'll be spending a good deal of next week there, working with the Turkish General Staff and appropriate leaders, going through the specifics of Turkey's commitments to help the coalition train and equip fighters from the Syrian moderate opposition."
Hagel said that Gen. John Allen, U.S. presidential envoy in the Middle East, has also seen considerable progress in negotiations with Turkey.
Responding to a question about fighting at the northern Syrian town of Kobani, Hagel said that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has occupied parts of the Kurdish-populated town.
"It is a dangerous situation and we recognize that. We are doing what we can do, through our airstrikes, to help drive back ISIL," he said.
Noting that the coalition forces' airstrikes in the area have made some progress, Hagel said it would be difficult to drive ISIL back substantially just with airstrikes.
"It's going to require many factors and we are working on them now; bringing together coalition partners, creating a strong, stable, united Iraqi government, working to strengthen Syrian opposition forces, and many other factors. And it's going to take a while. It is not going to be fast," he said.
There were reports circulating that ISIL has been moving on the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, with 10,000 militants.
However, Hagel noted that the Iraqi forces are in full control of Baghdad, and continue to strengthen their positions in the city.
"We continue to help them with airstrikes, with our assistance and our advisors," he said. "I think in Iraq, today, with our coalition partners, we are up around 300 airstrikes; we'll continue with those airstrikes."
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