Breaking news
Turkey allows U.S.-led coalition to use bases to fight Islamic State.
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Defence & Security News - United States and Turkey |
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| Monday, October 13, 2014 11:30 AM | |||
| Turkey allows U.S.-led coalition to use bases to fight Islamic State | |||
Turkey
agreed to allow the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS) to
use its military bases to fight against the extremist group, Agence France-Presse
reported Monday. US crews have long operated out of Incirlik Air Base
in the south of Turkey, with some 1,500 airmen stationed there.
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 USAF's F-16 C/J Fighting Falcon jet fighter taking off from Incirlik Air Base |
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According to the
agency, US aircraft attacking IS positions in Iraq are reportedly flying
out of al-Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, Ali al-Salem
Air Base in Kuwait and al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Turkey will allow American and coalition troops to use its bases, including a key installation within 100 miles of the Syrian border, for operations against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, Defense Department officials said Sunday, October 12. Obama administration officials have urged the Turkish government to play a more significant role in fighting the extremists who have seized large parts of Iraq and Syria and driven refugees into Turkey. An American military team will arrive in Turkey this week to work out details of the training program and discuss what kind of missions can be flown from the Turkish bases, administration officials said. The basing and training agreement follows two days of talks in Ankara, the Turkish capital, between the authorities there and John R. Allen, the retired American general who is coordinating the coalition’s response to the Islamic State. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who has been traveling in South America, has said the United States has sought access to Turkish air bases, including one at Incirlik in southern Turkey. |
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