Special to WorldTribune.com

LONDON — The United States is said to have been discussing a no-fly zone over Syria in an effort to stop Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Diplomatic sources said President Barack Obama has been promoting a plan for a Western-backed coalition to impose a no-fly zone over northern Syria.

They said Obama, who rejected a similar proposal in 2013, sent Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to consult with NATO and Arab allies as part of an effort to stop ISIL.

“The proposal stems from Turkey, which sees this as a means to protect its border with Syria,” a source said.

On Sept. 7, the London-based Al Hayat reported that Kerry discussed the no-fly zone with his Turkish counterpart, Ahmet Davutoglu. The Saudi-owned Al Hayat, in a report from Washington, said Obama viewed this proposal as a means to protect the Turkish border with Syria, the main route for ISIL.

The sources said the no-fly zone would be restricted to Syria’s northern border with Turkey. They said ISIL controls most of three northern Syrian provinces and captured major Syrian military bases.

“This could become a full-fledged proposal over the next week or so,” the source said.

Kerry has already raised the prospect of NATO military intervention in Syria as a means to stop ISIL in Iraq. For his part, Obama said he would present a plan to stop ISIL during a speech on Sept. 10.

“The next phase is now to start going on some offense,” Obama said in a U.S. television interview on Sept. 6. “The strategy both for Iraq and for Syria is that we will hunt down ISIL members and assets wherever they are.”

Diplomats said Iran, the leading ally of Damascus, would play a significant role in any no-fly zone over Syria. They said Washington has been coordinating the anti-ISIL campaign with Teheran, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

“Iran has offered to help. I, for one, think that’s useful,” Senate Intelligence Committee chairwoman Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a leading Obama ally, said.

The administration has acknowledged U.S. interest in working with Iran against ISIL. The State Department said Washington did not want the U.S. military to harm Iranian operations in Iraq.

“We are open to engaging the Iranians, just as we are engaging other regional players on the threat,” State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said.

  Ahmet Davutoglu, Chuck Hagel, John Kerry, NATO, Obama said to push Syria no-fly zone with prodding from Turkey