Turkey, US Prepare to Launch Large-Scale Anti-ISIL Operation – Turkish FM

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that American planes and unmanned aerial vehicles have already been arriving to southern Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base to take part in joint operation against the ISIL.

ANKARA (Sputnik) — Turkey and the United States will soon launch a large-scale campaign against the Islamic State (ISIL) extremist group, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Wednesday.

On July 24, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country was ready to make its domestic air bases available to US and coalition aircraft, participating in the anti-ISIL operation.

"American planes and unmanned aerial vehicles have already been arriving [to southern Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base]. Soon we will begin large-scale fight against ISIL together," Cavusoglu told the Turkish national broadcaster TRT, while paying a visit to Malaysia.

The US-led international coalition, which includes Turkey, has been conducting airstrikes against ISIL positions in Iraq since August 2014, later expanding the attacks to include ISIL targets in Syria.

ISIL is a militant group operating mainly in Syria and Iraq, having taken over large territories in both countries.