Turkey has given the US permission to launch air strikes against Islamic State from air bases in its territory, according to US defence officials.
President Obama's national security advisor Susan Rice told NBC that the US government welcomed the commitment, saying that Ankara would now play "an important role" in the fight against IS.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The CIA has been running a "train-and-equip" programme for hand-picked Syrian rebels since last year, which until now has been based in Saudi Arabia. One of the bases used for training and air strikes is expected to be the Incirlik Air Base situated in the south of the country, within 100 miles from the Syrian border.
Turkey has previously been criticised for failing to take action against IS militants, particularly in the key border town of Kobane.
"The move marks a breakthrough for Washington," according to The Times, following increasing pressure on Turkey to play a larger role in the fight against IS, due to its key geographical location.
While Turkey has deployed some troops to the Syrian border, it has refused to launch a ground offensive in either Syria or Iraq and has also stopped Kurdish fighters living in the country from crossing the border to fight.
Part of Turkey's reluctance to join the fight against Islamic State is due to concerns about arming its Kurdish population, against which it fought a long civil war, the BBC reports.
US defence officials are "continuing to talk to the Turks about other ways that they can play an important role", said Rice. "They are already essential to trying to prevent the flow of foreign fighters," she explained.
Meanwhile, heavy fighting between Kurdish forces and IS militants continues in Kobane, with neither side gaining ground, Ocalan Iso, deputy head of the Kobani defence council told The Guardian.
-
Nigel Farage: was he a teenage racist?Talking Point Farage’s denials have been ‘slippery’, but should claims from Reform leader’s schooldays be on the news agenda?
-
Pushing for peace: is Trump appeasing Moscow?In Depth European leaders succeeded in bringing themselves in from the cold and softening Moscow’s terms, but Kyiv still faces an unenviable choice
-
Sudoku medium: November 29, 2025The daily medium sudoku puzzle from The Week
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
