US and Russia to share intelligence on ISIL

Military leaders from more than 20 countries have met in the United States to discuss how to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), as US and Russia announced an agreement to share on the armed rebel group.

US President Barack Obama met yesterday with defence ministers from 22 countries, saying he is "deeply concerned" about the advances ISIL is making in Iraq's Anbar province and in Syria, including the Kurdish town of Kobane.

He vowed that US air strikes will continue in both countries.

US Secretary of State, John Kerry, met his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov in Paris, yesterday to discuss the latest developments in Iraq and Syria.

Mr. Kerry said the US has agreed to intensify intelligence cooperation with respect to ISIL and other counter-terrorism challenges of the region.

He said Moscow would also explore whether it could do more to help arm and train Iraq's embattled military.

The US and Russia have common ground in their concern about fighters from their countries joining ISIL, and then returning to carry out attacks at home.

ALJAZEERAA