Turkish official says Turkey, US agree to Syria 'safe zone': Reports

Turkey and the United States have agreed on terms of a "safe zone" in northern Syria, broadcaster CNN Turk quoted a senior Turkish diplomat as saying on Tuesday, a step forward in a slow-moving joint campaign against Islamic State (IS).

They agreed to create a 98 km (61 miles) long and 45 km wide area that will be patrolled by members of the opposition Free Syrian Army, the broadcaster quoted foreign ministry undersecretary quoted Feridun Sinirlioglu as saying.

Turkey and the United States have been working on plans to provide air cover for Syrian rebels and sweep IS from land along the Turkish border. Under the strategy, moderate Syrian rebels, trained by the US army, will fight the Islamic militant group on the ground and help co-ordinate air strikes by the US coalition, launched from Turkish air bases.

US and Turkish forces would hit IS or Kurdish militants if they entered the safe zone, CNN Turk quoted Sinirlioglu as saying. Diplomats familiar with the plans say cutting off one of Islamic State's lifelines could be a game-changer in this corner of Syria's complex war. The core of the US-trained rebels, who number fewer than 60, will be highly equipped and be able to call in close air support when needed, they say.

US officials have previously said discussions were ongoing about the size and scope of a safe zone along the border, but that the aim would be to clear it of IS fighters and allow moderate rebels to operate freely. They have ruled out a formal no-fly zone.