The
estimate is likely to raise scrutiny on Turkey's effectiveness as a
partner in the fight against ISIS, in particular following a failed
military coup attempt last week.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Sunday that he expected the coalition to raise questions about Turkey's efforts during a meeting hosted by U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter in Washington on Wednesday.
British Secretary of Defense Michael Fallon said Wednesday at a breakfast with defense reporters before the meeting that the coup attempt hasn't had a direct impact yet on the ISIS campaign along Turkey's border with northern Syria.
He added that Turkey would not have "any less interest in sealing the border with Syria," but added, "obviously we'll be watching."
In late April, a U.S. military official said about 200
foreign fighters per month were going to fight with ISIS, down from
more than 2,000 per month. The U.S. military updated its estimate in
late June to between 200 and 500 per month.
