Roundup: Turkey steps up airstrikes against IS targets inside Syria

Turkey has stepped up fight against Islamic State (IS) with fighter jets pounding the IS targets in Syria after bombing attack that claimed the lives of 32 people in Turkish town earlier this week.

In a statement issued from the Office of Prime Ministry, three Turkish F-16 combat aircraft struck IS targets inside Syria early Friday morning.

The Turkish jets were scrambled from their bases in the southern province Diyarbakir province and bombed two IS offices and one gathering point inside Syria with 4 guided missiles.

The targets were reportedly located near a village in Syria that is right across from the Turkish border province of Kilis along the Syrian border.

The jets did not enter into Syrian air space although local media reported that Ankara has informed Damascus regime of impending raids through the United States.

"The bombing of IS targets inside Syria indicates an escalation of the conflict with the terror group," Mehmet Seyfettin Erol, professor of international relations at Gazi University, told Xinhua.

Turkey felt compelled to act decisively against the group after its citizens were slaughtered, he said.

The air campaign came on the heels of an emergency meeting of Turkey's acting prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu who met with top military, security and intelligence officials late Thursday night.

On Wednesday, Turkish cabinet discussed measures aimed to tackle IS and other terror threats against the national security and decided to beef up security measures along Syrian border including building walls and barbed fences.

The Turkish government vowed to undertake all necessary measures to protect its citizens from the IS militants and the rebels of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK).

In a related development, Turkish special police forces conducted early Friday morning raids on suspected IS targets in 13 provinces as well as locations harboring Kurdish militants and ultra-leftist groups.

A total of 251 people were detained as part of the sweeping operations, according to the prime ministry's office.

Friday's raids on the IS targets occurred right after a news reports have emerged suggesting that Turkey agreed to open its key air base, Incirlik, in the southern province of Adana to the use of United States-led coalition against IS.

In a likely move to set the stage for further attacks, the IS militants have moved some weaponry and directed logistics to several points close to Turkish border, the local media also reported.

No confirmation was made by authorities on such preparations by the IS.

Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) has issued a warning that some 70 suspected IS militants plan to infiltrate into Turkey to stage terror acts that may very well target foreign missions.

The report said some might have already crossed into Turkey while others are in the wait.

On Monday, an IS suicide bomber blew himself up in border district Suruc, killing 32 people and wounding over 100 others.

Mehmet Akif Okur, an academic at Gazi University, believed more suicide plots and cross-border attacks by the IS are quite possible. Endit