Pentagon finalizes plan to bring Turkey into anti-ISIS air campaign

The Pentagon announced on Tuesday it has finalized technical details with Turkey that would bring the nation into the air campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The action marks a new phase in the air campaign against ISIS that is expected to yield an increased number of airstrikes against the terrorist group in Iraq and Syria.

Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook called it “an important development in the fight.”

{mosads}”The fact that Turkey is now going to be flying alongside with other coalition aircraft is a significant step forward, one we’ve been waiting for,” Cook said.  

“We’ve been trying to work out these logistical details. We’ve been able to do that. We think this will be an important step forward,” he added. 

The plans, which have been in the works for weeks, would see Turkey targeting ISIS as part of a coalition of eight countries striking in Iraq and among six in Syria. 

Cook said Turkey would be integrated into the coalition’s “air tasking order,” which tracks, coordinates and deconflicts all coalition air operations. 

As for when Turkey would begin striking, Cook said, “It could take a few days to put these technical arrangements into place at the operational level. 

“We believe that Turkey is committed to fully participating as soon as possible,” he added. 

The development is part of an agreement that allowed the U.S. to begin using Turkish bases to hit ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria, and coordinate with Turkey on protecting ISIS-free areas in northern Syria.  

Cook called the use of Turkish airbases “a very important force multiplier, as we expect it will continue to compliment our efforts to pressure ISIL on a number of fronts.” 

He did not address the ISIS-free areas, but said the U.S. would be evaluating options on countering ISIS, “including along its borders in a manner that promotes Turkey’s security and regional stability.”  

Cook also said the Pentagon was continuing to discuss with Turkey expanding the cooperation on how best to secure its border with Syria, which most foreign fighters are suspected to be crossing into Syria from.

“This is a work in progress. We’re working with the Turkish government towards that end,” he added. 

It is unclear whether Turkey would stop targeting Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq and Syria that it sees as affiliates to a Kurdish separatist group in Turkey. 

On Monday, the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that Kurdish fighters in Syria would not participate in establishing the ISIS-free areas, according to Reuters.

Turkey sees the Assad regime as more of a threat than ISIS, and is also worried that Kurdish victories in Iraq and Syria could prompt a separatist uprising in Turkey or moves to create a separate Kurdish state.

Cook said the focus of the U.S. and Turkey’s cooperation was on fighting ISIS.

“Our focus is the fight against ISIL, and it’s going to continue to be that, both with Turkey, with the moderate Syrian opposition forces, and that is our central focus,” he said.