US begins flying armed drones from Turkey

The U.S. over the weekend began flying armed drones from an airbase in Turkey in its fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, the Pentagon said Monday.  

“At this point, no strikes have been conducted, but they have begun flying armed,” said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, the Pentagon’s spokesman. 

{mosads}Previously, the U.S. had only flown unarmed drone missions from the Incirlik base in southern Turkey, near the border of Syria.

The armed flights were a result of an agreement between the U.S. and Turkey, as Turkey began to increase its efforts against ISIS. 

Turkey in recent weeks has also begun targeting Kurdish militants in Iraq and Syria, who Istanbul says has been conducting terrorist attacks inside its borders.