REUTERS

"We need it to do more within its own territory, so it controls its border, which it has not done effectively since ISIL first arose," Carter told a hearing in Congress, using an acronym for the Islamic State, Reuters reports.

"We would like them to operate more both in the air and on the ground. Most of the air operations are not directed at ISIL. They are directed at the PKK," he added, referring to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group.