Fighter aircrafts F-15 from Saudi Arabia arrived in Turkey to join air campaign against ISIL in Syria 12702161

Defence & Security News - Saudi Arabia
 
Fighter aircrafts F-15 from Saudi Arabia arrived in Turkey to join air campaign against ISIL in Syria.
Saudi fighter aircrafts F-15 arrived on Friday, February 26, 2016, at a Turkish base to join the air campaign against Islamic State jihadists in Syria only hours before a ceasefire is to take force, local media reported. Four F-15 jets landed at Incirlik air base in the Adana province in southern Turkey, the state-run Anatolia news agency reported.
     
Saudi fighter aircrafts arrived on Friday, February 26, 2016, at a Turkish base to join the air campaign against Islamic State jihadists in Syria only hours before a ceasefire is to take force, local media reported. Four F-15 jets landed at Incirlik air base in the Adana province in southern Turkey, the state-run Anatolia news agency reported. F-15 fighter aircraft of Royal Saudi Air Force
     
The base is already hosting US, British and French war planes taking part in the strikes against IS fighters in Syria. Saudi Arabia's air force had already sent ground personnel and equipment aboard C-130 Hercules military transport planes early this week. The deal excludes the IS jihadist group and other extremists. Turkey expressed alarm over the viability of the ceasefire as the Syrian regime and its ally Russia pressed ahead with an offensive.

The Saudi government has not confirmed the arrival of the F-15 jet fighters at the Turkish base. But analysts in the kingdom say Riyadh wants to see how the Syrian cease-fire works out on the ground.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters Thursday that Saudi warplanes would arrive on Friday, adding that Saudi ground troops have also been deployed to Turkey.

Last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced that Turkey and Saudi Arabia may join forces for ground operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL) in Syria.

Turkish military sources said the Saudi aircraft would be used either in airstrikes against ISIL strongholds in Syria or in support missions if the two countries decide to engage in a cross-border land operation inside Syria.