US officials: Turkey Oks use of bases for US, coalition operations against Islamic State group

Published December 03, 2015

Turkish soldiers hold their positions with their tanks on a hilltop on the outskirts of Suruc, at the Turkey-Syria border, overlooking Kobani, Syria, during fighting between Syrian Kurds and the militants of Islamic State group, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014. Kobani, also known as Ayn Arab, and its surrounding areas, has been under assault by extremists of the Islamic State group since mid-September and is being defended by Kurdish fighters.(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (The Associated Press)

American defense officials say Turkey will let U.S. and coalition forces use its bases, including a key installation within 100 miles of the Syrian border, for operations against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq,

The Obama administration has pressed Turkey for a larger role against the extremists, and a senior U.S. official confirmed Saturday that Ankara had agreed to train and moderate Syrian rebels on Turkish soil.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who's traveling in South America, has said the U.S. wanted access to the Turkish air bases, including one at Incirlik in southern Turkey, so it could launch strikes against the militants.

That base is part of the agreement, say U.S. defense officials speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss private talks.

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