With the NATO council meeting to discuss the recent outbreak of violence in Turkey, the US and Ankara have reportedly spoken about establishing an ISIL-free buffer zone in northern Syria. However, there are fears that such a campaign would target other groups and trigger more violence in the region.
The issue of an anti-buffer zone is thought to have been high on the agenda of today's NATO council meeting in Brussels, after Turkey experienced its greatest outbreak of violence in recent times following clashes with ISIL militants and Kurdish groups.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said he was pushing for permission to initiate a bombing campaign to rid northern Syria of ISIL fighters and other terrorist groups, while also offering support to western-backed 'moderate' rebel groups in the country.