Kerry Confident Of Broad Anti-IS Coalition

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry addresses the media prior to his meeting with the Turkish foreign minister in Ankara on September 12.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said he was confident that the United States would form a broad-based coalition to fight Islamic State militants.

Speaking in Ankara on September 12, Kerry said it would be premature to lay out the role of individual nations in the coalition.

He also said it would "not be appropriate" or Iran to participate in a Paris conference on September 15 aimed at coordinating actions to defeat the jihadist group in Iraq.

Earlier on September 12 in Baghdad, French President Francois Hollande said France is willing to provide "even more military assistance" to Iraq in its fight against IS fighters.

Asked whether France might carry out air strikes in Iraq, Hollande said Paris will "make decisions in due time."

France has delivered arms shipments and humanitarian equipment to Iraq.

At an earlier press conference with Iraqi President President Fuad Masum, Hollande said the aim of a September 15 conference in Paris is to “coordinate the aid, the support, and the actions to work for the unity of Iraq and against” the IS militant group.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP