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U.S. F-16s arrive at Turkey's Incirlik base to join fight against IS

Xinhua, August 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

Six F-16 fighters arrived at Incirlik Air Base in Adada province in southern Turkey on Sunday, private Dogan news agency reported.

These fighter planes are expected to conduct airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) targets in neighboring Syria and Iraq.

Along with them, about 300 airmen from the 31st Fighter Wing also arrived at the Incirlik Air Base on Sunday, according to the report.

On Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevult Cavusoglu said that U.S. aircrafts and drones arrived at the Incirlik airbase, adding that the two countries will soon kick off a "comprehensive battle against the Islamic State (IS) altogether."

Incirlik airbase is strategically located beside the Syrian border and is a key military base for various international campaigns in the Iraq war.

The Turkish government granted permission for anti-IS coalition forces, including the United States and other regional countries, to deploy manned and unmanned aircrafts in Turkey's military airbases, a Turkish foreign ministry statement said on July 24.

Following a recent deadly suicide bombing in the border town of Suruc, the Turkish military launched military operations against IS targets within Syria and adopted a more obvious role in fighting IS. Endit