Peter Bechtold discusses ISIL’s advance across Syria

Islamic Extremism

Flames rise from an explosion in the Syrian town of Kobane, also known as Ain al-Arab, after a US-led coalition strike as it seen from the Turkish border in the southeastern village of Mursitpinar, Sanliurfa province, on October 18, 2014. Turkey is turning a deaf ear to insistent pressure to take a more pro-active stance in the fight against Islamic State (IS) jihadists, adding to existing strains with the West under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Western diplomats have repeatedly made clear they want to see the key NATO member play a key role in the coalition against the militants, who are battling for the Syrian town Kobane just a few kilometers from Turkey. AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS

The U.S.-led coalition targeted ISIL with six more air strikes in Kobane. This comes after witnesses said shelling by the terrorists hit areas within Turkey.

For more insight on the fight against the Islamic State, CCTV America spoke to Peter Bechtold. He is a Former Director of Near East North Africa Area Studies at the U.S. State Department’s Foreign Service Institute. He is now an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Portland State University.