US, Turkey to create ISIS-free zone in Syria

The US and Turkey have agreed to work together to drive Islamic State jihadists from northern Syria, a senior US official said yesterday, as Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said its military could "change the balance" in the region.

The potentially game-changing accord was revealed as Turkey fuelled the growing anger of its Kurdish minority by shelling a Kurdish-held village in northern Syria as its warplanes continued to pound separatist targets in northern Iraq.

"The goal is to establish an ISIL-free zone and ensure greater security and stability along Turkey's border with Syria," the US official, who asked not to be named, told AFP using another acronym for the jihadist group.

Details of the zone "remain to be worked out", the official said during a visit by US President Barack Obama to Ethiopia.

But the official added that "any joint military efforts will not include the imposition of a no-fly zone" -- a long standing Turkish demand.

It would however entail Turkey, Nato'S only mainly Muslim member, supporting US "partners on the ground" already fighting ISIS extremists.