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World Defense & Security News - Saudi Arabia
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Saudi Arabia sent fighter jets to Turkey's Incirlik airbase to help in fight against Daesh
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According to Al Arabiya News Channel, a Saudi defense ministry adviser confirmed late Saturday that the kingdom had sent fighter jets to Turkey’s Incirlik air base for the military campaign against ISIS militants in Syria. Brigadier General Ahmed al-Asiri told Al Arabiya News Channel that Saudi Arabia was committed to stepping up the fight against ISIS and that the move was part of those efforts.
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 A RSAF Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet |
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In response to a question on whether ground troops were included, Asiri said: "What is present now is aircraft that are part of the Saudi forces,"
He also said that the current presence in the air base was limited to aircraft and no ground troops had been sent. Saudi Arabia has resumed its participation in air strikes against ISIS in recent weeks and U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Thursday welcomed its commitment to expand its role. As Syrian government forces are making gains lately on the battlegrounds, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and others have voiced readiness to deepen their military intervention in the war-torn country. A Saudi military spokesman has pledged to send in ground troops in case of the U.S.-led coalition's agreement to launch a ground operation in Syria, while the UAE has agreed to dispatch special forces there, as claimed by U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed early this month that it had "reasonable grounds to suspect intensive training in Turkey for a military invasion" into Syrian. The Royal Saudi Air Force's fighter squadrons currently operate Tornado IDS, F-15C, F-15S and Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft. |
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