Saudi Arabia Confirms Sending Warplanes To Turkey In Fight Against ISIS
KABUL: (MEP) Saudi Arabia confirmed Saturday dispatching warplanes to the Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey, for the fight against Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.
“The kingdom was committed to stepping up the fighting against IS and that the move was part of those efforts” Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri, adviser in the office of Saudi Arabia’s minister of defense told al-Arabiya television network.
Asiri said no ground troops are currently stationed at the air base, adding, “What is present now is aircraft that are part of the Saudi Arabian forces.”
Meanwhile, the Turkish foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, confirmed the deployment in a statement to the Yeni Şafak newspaper on Saturday, days before a temporary ceasefire is due to come into force.
“Saudi Arabia declared its determination against IS by saying that they were ready to send both jets and troops,” he said.
Saudi Arabia has resumed its participation in air strikes against Islamic State in recent weeks and U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Thursday welcomed its commitment to expand its role.
However, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are widely believed to be among major sponsors of terrorist groups operating against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The Turkish minister said Ankara and Riyadh could launch a ground operation in Syria “if there is a strategy.”
