France says airstrikes in Syria not enough to stop Islamic State group, supports buffer zone

Turkish Kurds in the outskirts of Suruc, on the Turkey-Syria border, offer their Friday prayers as they gather to support Syrian Kurds over the border in nearby Kobani, Syria, where fighting between Syrian Kurds and the militants of Islamic State group intensified, Friday, Oct. 10, 2014. Kobani, also known as Ayn Arab, and its surrounding areas, has been under assault by extremists of the Islamic State group since mid-September and is being defended by Kurdish fighters. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (The Associated Press)

French Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius, left, welcomes his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu prior to their talks in Paris, Friday Oct. 10 , 2014. The Islamic State group is fighting for control of the embattled town of Kobani in Syria, on the border with Turkey (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon) (The Associated Press)

France's foreign minister is calling for the creation of a buffer zone between Syria in Turkey to protect refugees and civilians as the Islamic State group advances in the region.

He met with his Turkish counterpart as the militants pushed into the Kurdish Syrian town of Kobani after the U.S.-led coalition stepped up airstrikes.

France's Laurent Fabius said Friday that world powers should do more to urgently support moderate forces fighting both the extremists and Syrian President Bashar Assad's army.

He said "we support the idea of a buffer zone," though stressed that it would require "extremely close international coordination." France is participating in airstrikes against extremists in Iraq but not Syria.

Turkey is pushing for a buffer zone and no-fly zone, but the U.S. is not considering that option.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/france-says-airstrikes-in-syria-not-enough-to-stop-islamic-state-group-supports-buffer-zone