WASHINGTON (AP) — Turkey has agreed to let the United States launch airstrikes against the Islamic State group from the strategic Incirlik Air Base.
That’s according to two Obama administration officials who weren’t authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity.
The U.S. has been seeking permission for months for the U.S.-led coalition to use Incirlik as a launching pad. Turkey had been resistant to the idea amid domestic opposition. But in recent days, Turkey has been hit by a surge of violence blamed on IS-linked militants.
The officials say President Barack Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (REH’-jehp TY’-ihp UR’-doh-wahn) discussed the plan during a phone call Wednesday.