Turkey's leaders on Friday confirmed a landmark deal with the United States on the use of a key air base near Syria, after Washington said American jets would be able to use the facility to launch raids against jihadists. Hurriyet daily said the agreement for US planes to use Incirlik base in southern Turkey provided for a 90-kilometre (56 mile) no-fly zone between the Syrian towns of Marea and Jarabulus to the east.
"It (Incirlik) will be used within a certain framework," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul, without giving further details. Asked about the deal Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said: "A decision has been taken for Turkey's own security."
US officials had grown increasingly frustrated over Turkey's reluctance to play a full role in the coalition against IS, including its refusal to let Incirlik be used for bombing raids against IS. But a suicide bombing in a Turkish border town blamed on IS followed by border clashes appear to have hardened Ankara's resolve.
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