The two countries agreed in February to train and equip up to 15,000 Syrians under the USD 500 million US program designed to add a credible ground force to an air bombing campaign against the militant group.
The program suffered unexplained delays as the US resisted Turkish calls for the force to be also prepared to fight the Syrian regime and the sides tried to reach agreement on who to train.
"They have to be supported via air," Mevlut Cavusoglu, the Turkish foreign minister told the pro-government Daily Sabah newspaper in comments published today. "If you do not protect them or provide air support, what is the point?"
Cavusoglu didn't provide further details on the air cover or confirm whether the air support would include the use of armed drones taking off from an air base in southern Turkey.
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US officials have said the aim is to train 5,000 Syrians a year for three years at a base in the central Turkish city of Kirsehir and at sites in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
While resisting Turkish pressure for the rebels to also target Syrian regime forces, US officials have conceded that the recruits will have to defend themselves against all sides.
Cavusoglu said: "While the fight against (the Islamic State group) is prioritized, the regime must be also stopped.