WASHINGTON
Turkey’s participation in the U.S.-led coalition’s air campaign against Daesh has “significantly broadened” the coalition’s ability to combat the extremist group.
“Turkey's entry into CJTF operations, along with our ability to base attack platforms out of Incirlik [Air Base], has significantly broadened our capabilities by increasing flexibility in targeting, and target area coverage overall,” Combined Joint Task Force chief of staff, Brig. Gen. Kevin J. Killea, told reporters.
He added that Turkey is participating daily in the air campaign within the coalition’s air tasking order that has resulted in a “seamless” coordination of efforts.
“This latest evolution in the ongoing partnership with Turkey will ensure further operational integration and successes,” Killea said.
Turkey announced late last month that it carried out its first anti-Daesh airstrikes as part of the coalition after allowing the strategic Incirlik Air Base in the south to be used for coalition airstrikes in July.
Killea adamantly denied that the U.S. has stopped support for northern Syria’s Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), saying that the fighters have “been an incredible, reliable partner of ours on the ground in the fight against ISIL up in the northern part of Syria, no doubt”.
Regarding a potential no-fly zone in northern Syria, Killea said the coalition is not exploring the idea.
“With regard to any zone along the border, if there's discussions in that area, they're in their beginning stages,” he said. “Certainly we're not talking about a no-fly zone; it's got nothing to do on the aviation side.”
