US jets launch first anti-IS Syria strikes from Turkey

A US drone had last week executed a single lethal air strike against an IS target in Syria but this was the first time manned US fighter jets had carried out raids after taking off from Turkey's strategically-located Incirlik base.

Turkey is currently pressing a two-pronged "anti-terror" offensive against IS jihadists in Syria and Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants in northern Iraq and southeast Turkey following a wave of attacks inside the country. 

But until now the Turkish air strikes have overwhelmingly concentrated on the separatist Kurdish rebels, to the frustration of Western commentators who want to see Turkey ramp up its involvement in the fight against IS.

Using the Incirlik base outside the city of Adana in southern Turkey drastically cuts the distance needed for the US jets to fly to northern Syria compared with other launch bases further afield in the Middle East.

"Today, the United States began flying manned counter-ISIL missions from Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Strikes were conducted," Pentagon spokeswoman Commander Elissa Smith said.

Turkey's Dogan news agency said three US fighter jets were seen taking off from Incirlik in the evening.

Last month, Turkey agreed to open up the base to coalition planes for bombing IS targets in Syria following months of tough negotiations.

The expectation now will be that Turkish forces -- which so far have only carried out the most limited strikes against IS -- will also join in the bombing raids.

"Turkey and the United States will coordinate operations," a Turkish official said on condition of anonymity in Ankara just before the Pentagon announcement. 

"From our perspective, there has been a pause right now as Americans asked to wait for coordination purposes."

Brett McGurk, deputy US envoy for the anti-IS coalition, meanwhile wrote on Twitter that he was back in Ankara for talks with Turkish officials "to advance our joint cooperation" against IS militants.

Turkish officials have indicated a major priority will be the establishment of a safe zone inside Syria free of IS jihadists where some of the 1.8 million Syrian refugees Turkey is hosting could be housed. But Washington has yet to express clear enthusiasm for the idea.

 

(AFP)