In shift, Turkish jets strike Islamic State targets in Syria

In a major tactical shift, Turkish warplanes struck Islamic State group targets across the border in Syria on Friday, a day after IS militants fired at a Turkish military outpost. A Syrian rights group said the airstrikes killed nine IS fighters. Turkey, which straddles Europe and Asia and borders the Middle East, had long been reluctant to join the U.S.-led coalition against the extremist group. In a related, long-awaited development, Turkey said it has agreed to allow U.S.-led coalition forces to base manned and unmanned aircraft at its air bases for operations targeting the IS group. A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement said Turkey’s military would also take part in the operations.

This was not a point operation. This is a process. It is not limited to one day or to one region. … The slightest movement threatening Turkey will be retaliated against in the strongest way possible.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu

Earlier, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed that Turkey had agreed to let the U.S. use Incirlik air base for operations “within a certain framework." Turkish police also launched a major operation Friday against extremist groups including the Islamic State. They detained more than 290 people in simultaneous raids in Istanbul and 12 provinces. Turkey’s moves came as the country finds itself drawn further into the conflict in neighboring Syria by a series of deadly attacks and signs of increased IS activity inside Turkey itself. A funeral was held for slain Turkish soldier Yalcin Nane on Friday, where mourners denounced the IS violence, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.