President Barack Obama 's chief anti-ISIS coalition envoy , retired Gen. John Allen , arrived Thursday in Ankara , where it will be up to him to convince the Turkish government to take more decisive action against the terrorist group . `` The events of last week have made it clear that urgent and rapid steps are needed to halt [ ISIS ' ] military capabilities , '' State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said , `` and Gen. Allen and [ diplomat Brett ] McGurk will make that clear in their meetings with Turkish officials . '' Within the United States there is growing frustration with the Turks , whose participation in the U.S.-led coalition is vital . But they have been slow to respond to ISIS advances just beyond their southern border . ISIS is fighting to take the Syrian town of Kobani , a predominantly Kurdish town just steps from Turkey . In recent days , the United States has ramped up its airstrikes in the area , but without combat boots on the ground -- something the Obama administration is unwilling to commit -- the air campaign is unlikely to keep the town from falling into ISIS hands . The United States hopes Turkish troops could help turn the tide . The Turkish Parliament greenlit military action against ISIS last week , and they already have tanks and troops along the border . So far , those troops are hanging back . `` We want to see them be helpful , '' Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said Wednesday . `` We know they have information and capabilities militarily that we just do n't have , because they 're there . They 're a neighbor . '' For his part , Secretary of State John Kerry said he expects Turkey 's role in the coalition to become clearer after Allen 's meetings . `` He is going to have long meetings through [ Thursday ] and Friday which we hope to determine exactly how Turkey will now enter this having resolved their hostage crisis , '' Kerry told reporters . `` Clearly , on their border -- this is of enormous concern to Turkey and they recognize that . '' But Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Thursday it 's not `` realistic '' for the world to expect Turkey to launch a ground operation against ISIS alone but that , `` once we reach a joint decision Turkey will continue to act and do its utmost . '' Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says it 's the United States that must do more . In an interview with CNN 's Christiane Amanpour , Davutoglu said the U.S. must be willing to expand its role in Syria to take on the Bashar al-Assad regime , as well as extremist groups such as ISIS . `` We are ready to do everything if there is a clear strategy that after ISIS , we can be sure that our border will be protected , '' he said . `` We do n't want the regime anymore on our border pushing people against -- towards Turkey . '' In other words , Turkey is willing to help fight ISIS , if the United States can make certain commitments . Turkey willing to put troops in Syria `` if others do their part '' `` The Turks could make a tremendous difference , '' former U.S. ambassador to Iraq James Jeffrey tells CNN . `` What they 're trying to do is to leverage their extraordinary geographic , military and political position -- and it is unique in the Middle East -- to get the United States to sign up more aggressively '' against Assad . Negotiating with Washington . Turkey also is holding out for help in creating a buffer zone to ward off the Syrian air force and protect refugees teaming into camps along the border . The Obama administration has long resisted that proposal , though the window seemed to open a bit on Wednesday , when Kerry said it was `` worth looking at very , very closely . '' But Turkey 's strategy of holding out for concessions is not without risk . `` If [ Kobani ] falls that will be a dramatic development , '' said Jeffrey , `` and it will of course expose Turkey to 500 miles of ISIS-controlled territory on its southern boundary . They do n't want that . '' And as the negotiations with Washington unfold , Turkey is also feeling internal pressure . Turkish Kurds , closely aligned with Kurds in Syria , are desperate to see their government take action . The Turkish government and Kurdish separatist parties recently opened the door for negotiations after decades of fighting . Now , the crisis in Kobani and the governments perceived inaction threaten to derail that progress and reignite violence inside Turkey . Thousands have taken to the streets of Turkey to protest their government 's reluctance to act in Kobani . On Thursday , some of those protests turned violent , leading to the deaths of at least 24 people , according to the country 's semi-official news agency , Anadolu . Meanwhile , Turkey 's main opposition party said it will back a motion to authorize ground operations as long as they are limited to rescuing Kobani and repelling ISIS , Anadolu also reported . Despite mounting frustration with its coalition ally , the United States can not afford to lose Turkey as an ally in the fight against ISIS . Turkey 's key geography . Their location makes them a key regional partner , and the United States needs Turkey to cut off the flow of foreign fighters into Syria , most of whom enter by crossing the Turkish border . The United States also needs the Turkish government to crack down on black market sales of illegal oil , a main funding source for ISIS ' activities . These issues are all on the table as Allen meets with Turkish officials over the next two days .
A special U.S. envoy is in Turkey to wrangle more support for the fight against ISIS . Turkey 's geography makes it a key partner for the U.S . Comment: