|
Trending Topics
|
Source: http://www.defenseone.com/threats/2015/07/turkey-opens-key-air-base-us-strikes-isis/118443/
Turkey Opens Key Air Base for U.S. Strikes on ISIS
(Defense One) Patrick Tucker and Marcus Weisgerber - Turkey will open Incirlik Air Force Base, about 250 miles from the Syrian city of Raqqa, to U.S. and coalition strike operations against the Islamic State, Obama administration officials confirmed. The anti-ISIS aircraft had been flying some 1,200 miles from bases outside Iraq or aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf to strike enemy positions. Washington had been trying to get Turkey's permission to launch strike missions from Incirlik ever since the air campaign began last August. On Monday, 31 people were killed when a bomb exploded in the Turkish city of Suruc. Turkish authorities have blamed the attack on Seyh Abdurrahman Alagoz, whom they said has ties to the Islamic State.