Kerry Calls Turkey Buffer Zone 'Worth Examining,' State Dept. Not Considering 'At This Time'

Credit: US Department of State(WASHINGTON) — Secretary of State John Kerry may have spoken out of turn on Wednesday when he called the idea of a buffer zone on the Syrian-Turkish border something “worth examining, looking closely.”

House after Kerry made those comments at a press availability with U.K. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said that while the concept has never been ruled out, the U.S. is “just not considering the implementation at this time.”

Psaki later told reporters that Gen. John Allen and Ambassador Brett McGurk will discuss the concept among a range of military options later in the week.

The Turkish government has been seeking a buffer zone in order to protect Syrian refugees and bolster its own borders. The decision could have an impact on Turkey’s impending decision on stepping up action against ISIS.


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