Kerry expects Turkey’s help in fight against IS

The United States expects Turkey to step up in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group now that Turkey has secured the release of 49 hostages held by the militants, Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday.

The hostages – 46 Turks and three Iraqis – were returned to Turkey on Saturday after more than three months in the hands of the ISIL group, which captured them when it overran the Iraqi city of Mosul in June.

Turkey, a US ally and member of the NATO military alliance, has made commitments at various regional conferences to help in the effort against the ISIL group but the help has been limited so far because “they first needed to deal with their hostage situation,” Kerry said in an appearance on MSNBC.

“Now the proof will be in the pudding,” Kerry said.

The US is looking for major participation from nations in the region in the US-led campaign to destroy the ISIL group. President Barack Obama has pledged that no American troops will be involved in combat missions against the group, and the US expects nations in the region to provide those.