Saudi Arabia's air-to-air combat jets arrive at Turkey's air base as first concrete move from Riyadh to fight Daesh in Syria
Four f-15 fighter jets of Saudi Royal Air Forces have been arrived at Turkey's incirlik air base on Friday to conduct fight against Daesh with US-led coalition military forces.
A group of 30 advance-guard Saudi troops already arrived at the airbase, along with C-130 Hercules multipurpose military transport aircraft. For the last two days C-130 cargo planes have been shipping military materials and equipment to İncirlik as preparation for F-15 fighter jets.
Though multipurpose, the F-15 is particularly specialized in air-to-air combat. Turkish officials previously announced that Saudi Arabia would send fighter jets to the İncirlik airbase as part of the US-led coalition forces' operations in Syria, but did not say how many planes would come. US had also welcomed the Saudi move, saying that it would speed up the coalition's anti-Daesh campaign in Syria.
This is the first time a non-NATO country has deployed military forces to İncirlik since the base entered into service in 1955.
The Saudi deployment adds to US, German and British aircraft already using the base for sorties and is the first concrete sign of a commitment from Riyadh to a greater military role in Syria.
Both Saudi Arabia and Turkey support moderate oppositions seeking to oust Assad, and see his overthrow as essential for ending Syria's five-year civil war that has cost more than 260,000 lives.
Previously, Saudi Arabia announced that it also was ready to join a ground operation in the country along with Turkey.
