An F-16CJs takes of from Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The Turkish air force on Friday conducted its first airstrikes against Islamic State forces as part of the U.S.-led international bombing campaign known as Operation Inherent Resolve. File Photo by Dennis J. Henry Jr./ U.S. Air Force | License Photo

ANKARA, Turkey, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Turkey on Friday carried out its first anti-Islamic State airstrikes as an official member of the U.S.-led bombing coalition known as Operation Inherent Resolve.

The Turkish air force had on July 24 launched its first airstrikes against the militants following an IS suicide bombing that killed more than 30 people in the Turkish town of Suruc, but not as part of the coalition operation.


"Our fighter aircraft together with warplanes belonging to the coalition began as of yesterday evening to jointly carry out air operations against Daesh targets that constitute a threat against the security of our country," the BBC quoted Turkey's foreign ministry as saying Saturday, using an alternative name for the Sunni militant group.

IS is also identified by the acronyms ISIS and ISIL.

U.S. forces, meanwhile, began using Turkey as a base from which to attack IS forces following an agreement in July.

Pentagon officials on Aug. 10 said six U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft and about 300 personnel arrived at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey. The BBC reports U.S. drone strikes being launched from the facility earlier this month.

The U.S.-led coalition also includes Australia, Denmark, France, the Netherlands and Britain, which conduct airstrikes on IS forces in Iraq, while Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates conduct anti-IS airstrikes in Syria. Canada, Jordan and the United States conduct strikes in both countries.

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An Aug. 29 report from the U.S. Department of Defense tallied seven airstrikes against IS positions in the Syrian cities of al-Hasakah, al-Hawl and Washiyah, as well as 15 airstrikes against IS targets in 10 different cities in Iraq.

U.S. figures put the cost of Operation Inherent Resolve at $3.7 billion as of Aug. 15, with more than 10,500 IS targets damaged or destroyed between Aug. 8, 2014 and Aug. 7, 2015.

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