Kerry touts coalition for Islamic State fight, says ‘We’ll see what happens’ with Turkey

Secretary of State John F. Kerry says there is a role for nearly every nation in the world — including Iran — in the fight against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, asserting that so far “more than 50 countries have come forward with critical commitments” to a growing international effort to crush the extremist movement.

Mr. Kerry made the claims on Friday afternoon as he convened a United Nations Security Council meeting at U.N. headquarters in New York focused on the Islamic State crisis. The Security Council moved swiftly to adopt a statement condemning the extremists, who’ve run rampant seizing territory across the Syria-Iraq border during recent months.

Mr. Kerry said major commitments are now being made by key regional powers, including Egypt, which has “committed to significantly enhance the coordination between its forces and Iraqi and Kurdish forces” in the fight against Islamic State militants.

“But even further from away from Iraq, countries like Australia are committing to deploying fighter jets and support aircraft and personnel,” he said.

Mr. Kerry also cited major roles being played by U.S. allies in Europe, including Germany, which reversed its longstanding policy against offering lethal aid to join the fight, and France, which began conducting air strikes against Islamic State targets inside northern Iraq on Thursday night.

“We’re also seeing overwhelming support when it comes to humanitarian assistance,” the secretary of state told foreign diplomats gathering at U.N. headquarters for the annual U.N. General Assembly meeting, slated to feature high-level meetings on a range of issues as it carries on through next week in New York City.

“Dozens of countries from throughout the international community have so far committed almost $1 billion to the UN-led humanitarian response in Iraq,” said Mr. Kerry. “That includes donations from countries within the region — Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and elsewhere — as well as funds from countries on the other side of the world — Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and more.”

“The fact is there is a role for nearly every country in the world to play, including Iran, whose foreign minister is here with us here today,” he said.

Turkey’s role?

One nation Mr. Kerry did not mention, according to a version of his remarks provided by the State Department, was Turkey.

While Turkey borders Iraq to the north, it’s leaders have so far shown resistance to calls from Washington and Europe to get more directly involved in the growing campaign against the Islamic State.

The Turkish posturing has become a subject of growing scrutiny in Washington during recent days.

During congressional testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday, Mr. Kerry told lawmakers that the Islamic State movement is helping to finance itself at the moment with illicit oil sales made through smuggling routes from Iraq to either Lebanon or Turkey.

Mr. Kerry also suggested Turkey’s resistance to getting involved in the military fight against the extremists may stem from unease over 49 Turkish hostages that Islamic State fighters are believed to be holding in northern Iraq.

Mr. Kerry told lawmakers that “we really do understand the sensitivities that Turkey has,” and said that he and others in the Obama administration have recently had “some very candid conversations” with their Turkish counterparts.

But, the secretary of state said, “Turkey understands the challenges,” and “Turkey will have to make its decisions in the days ahead and we’ll see what happens.”