US Forces To Use Turkey's Military Bases Against ISIS; Official Warns Of Imminent Baghdad Attack

Turkey has given permission for the United States to use its military bases in the effort to stop the militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. According to a report by BBC, U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice announced the agreement between the two countries that would allow the U.S. to use Turkey's Incirlik air base in the southern part of Turkey.

The U.S. is currently leading airstrikes against ISIS that has taken over the control of a large part of Iraq and Syria in the past few months. Reports said Turkey has ruled out the idea of launching a ground operation despite sharing the border with Iraq and Syria.

Rice told NBC that Turkey had agreed to the arrangement that would not only allow the U.S. to use its bases but also "train moderate Syrian opposition forces." She said the U.S. welcomed the agreement as ISIS militants continue to move against the Syrian town of Kobane. U.S. forces have been launching aerial strikes to support Kurdish forces fighting ISIS on the ground.

The growing threat of ISIS has pushed the Turkish government to position its military forces on the border, but it has not allowed any form of ground operation. Turkey has refused the Kurds in the country to cross the border and help fight the militants. The country is hesitant to get involved in the military operations against ISIS partly because Turkey is concerned about Kurdish forces using their weapons. Reports hint the long civil war between Turkey and the Kurdish minority may be to blame.

Since ISIS attacked Kobane in the middle of September, about 500 people have been killed. Meanwhile, 200,000 crossed the border into Turkey.

U.S. President Barack Obama's top military adviser has warned of ISIS possibly launching an attack in Baghdad. Gen. Martin Dempsey said ISIS fighters had somehow blended in with Sunni populations in some towns in Iraq and villages near the capital city. He believes ISIS will use "indirect fire", which refers to the use of mortar or rockets, on Iraq.