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US F-16 jets swoop down on Daesh targets from Turkey

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US F-16 jets swoop down on Daesh targets from Turkey
A US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from Aviano Air Base, Italy, deploys to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, in this US Air Force handout picture.

Brussels - The arrival of the fighter jets in Turkey along with support equipment and around 300 personnel was confirmed by the US European Command.

By AFP

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Published: Mon 10 Aug 2015, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Tue 11 Aug 2015, 9:09 AM

The United States for the first time on Sunday deployed half a dozen F-16 warplanes to Turkey to help operations against the Daesh group, US officials said.
The deployment marks the first time since an international coalition began bombing Daesh targets in Iraq and Syria a year ago that US jets will launch strikes from Turkey, following an accord signed with Ankara late last month.
"Six US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons deploy to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, to support the fight against Daesh," the US mission to Nato said in a tweet.
The arrival of the fighter jets in Turkey along with support equipment and around 300 personnel was confirmed by the US European Command in a statement.
"The detachment is from the 31st Fighter Wing based at Aviano Air Base, Italy. This follows Turkey's decision to host the deployment of US aircraft conducting counter-Daesh operations," it said.
"The United States and Turkey, as members of the 60-plus nation coalition, are committed to the fight against Daesh in the pursuit of peace and stability in the region."
The US up to now has used armed drones from Incirlik to strike Daesh targets in Syria, supporting the Turkish air campaign against the militants.
According to media reports some 30 US fighters are due to arrive in the coming days to take part in the operation.
A member of Nato, Turkey had refused to participate actively in the anti-Daesh operations for fear of supporting the Kurdish fighters battling the militants on the border in Syria.
But Ankara changed its position after a deadly bombing blamed on Daesh on July 20 in Suruc, a Turkish town opposite the Syrian flashpoint of Kobani, that left 32 people dead.


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