Obama meets defence chiefs from 20 countries to discuss IS

US president Barack Obama and his military commanders are meeting defence chiefs from more than 20 nations participating in the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq.

The day-long meeting comes as the White House tries to explain progress in the US-led campaign against the militants, while also girding the public for a military effort that could extend well beyond Mr Obama’s presidency.

Among the countries represented at today's meeting will be Arab nations that have joined the US in launching airstrikes against the militants in Syria, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

European partners like Britain and France are also participating, as is Turkey, a key Nato ally that borders both Syria and Iraq.

However, Turkey has not reached a new agreement to let the US use its Incirlik air base in the fight against Islamic State militants, and talks are continuing on the subject, Turkish officials said last night.

Turkey had reached an agreement with Washington on the training of Syrian rebels, sources from the Turkish prime minister’s office told reporters, without saying who would train the insurgents or where.

The comments come after US national security adviser Susan Rice said Turkey had agreed to let forces from a US-led military coalition use its bases for activities inside

Iraq and Syria and to train moderate Syrian rebels. "There is not an agreement, no decision has been taken with regards to using Incirlik air base," Tanju Bilgic, spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry, told reporters at the United Nations in New York.

He said the possible use of Incirlik air base was still “on the agenda” and suggested that Turkey had agreed to allow other facilities to be used to help train and equip Syrian rebels.

"Many issues are pending and many issues are being discussed between the United States and Turkey, this includes the creation of a safe zone and creation of a no-fly zone as well," he said.