The United States wants to ramp up joint efforts with Turkey to destroy the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Iraq and Syria, but expects Ankara to be part of integrated efforts with Iraq, according to the U.S. secretary of defense.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter conducted several meetings with Turkish officials on Oct. 21 amid escalating tensions between Turkey and Iraq over the fight against ISIL. He held meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım and Defense Minister Fikri Işık.