Sunday, October 12, 2014

Turkey Lets US, Allies Use Its Bases against IS; Also OKs Training Syrian Forces on Turkish Soil

Turkey will let U.S. and coalition forces use its military bases -- including a key installation within 100 miles of the Syrian border -- for operations against radical Muslims in the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Yahoo News website reports today (October 12, 2014).

The Obama administration had been pressing Turkey for several days to play a larger role against its neighboring extremists, who have seized large swaths of Syria and Iraq -- including territory on Turkey's border -- and sent refugees fleeing into that nation.

U.S. officials confirmed that Ankara had agreed to train some 4,000 Syrian moderate troops on Turkish soil.

Today, U.S. officials also confirmed that Turkey agreed to let U.S. and coalition fighter aircraft launch operations against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria from Turkish bases, including Incirlik Base in the south. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss private talks between the Americans and Turks.

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