Turkish Jets Join Coalition Air Strikes Against Islamic State

Turkey says it has carried out its first air strikes as part of the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS) militant group.

The Foreign Ministry says Turkish jets began attacking IS targets late on August 28 across the border in Syria.

The operation followed an agreement between Ankara and Washington earlier this month about Turkey's role in the campaign against the extremist group, which controls large parts of Syria and Iraq.

NATO-member Turkey, which has long supported rebel factions battling the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, launched air strikes last month against IS targets in Syria, but not as part of the coalition.

It also granted U.S. jets access to the Incirlik air base close to the Syrian border.

Based on reporting by AFP, AP, Reuters, and dpa