US Conducts First Manned Airstrikes on IS Targets from Turkey's Incirlik Air Base

In this image provided by the U.S. Air Force, an F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off from Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, as the U.S. on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015, launched its first airstrikes by Turkey-based F-16 fighter jets against Islamic State targets in Syria

The US conducted its first manned airstrikes on Islamic State (IS) targets from the Turkish Incirlik Air Base on Wednesday.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the first manned airstrikes had been carried out against an unspecified number of targets in Syria, but did not disclose further details.

At the end of July, Ankara allowed the US-led international coalition against IS to conduct airstrikes from the air base, which is located close to the Turkish border with Syria.

The US began flying armed missions from the strategic air base in southeastern Turkey last weekend and carried out the first unmanned airstrikes on Tuesday, Anadolu news agency reports.

During the weekend, the USA deployed a contingent of six F-16 fighter jets and 300 American personnel to Incirlik from an air base in Italy.

Turkish fighter jets were not involved in the manned US air strikes against IS, Hurriyet Daily informs.

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