Coalition drones take off from Turkey hit ISIL in Syria for second day
(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) >Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) targets in Syria’s north were hit by armed drones belonging to the U.S.-led coalition on May 2.
Four MQ-1 modelled drones took off from the ncirlik Air Base in the southern province of Adana.
Five weapon pits belonging to the jihadist group were destroyed and 29 militants were killed in the airstrike according to information and images obtained from the region.
The airstrikes came after ISIL fired three rockets on the southeastern border province of Kilis early on May 1.
The Turkish army shared the intelligence gathered from Syria’a north with the U.S.-led coalition and an operation was launched Doan News Agency reported.
Also midday on May 1 ISIL targets across from Kilis in Syria were hit by howitzers reportedly resulting in the deaths of 25 militants. Six vehicles belonging to the militants were also destroyed.
The Turkish army also fired howitzers at ISIL positions early on May 1 and nine militants were killed as a result making the total number of militants killed 34.
The U.S.-led coalition also hit ISIL targets on May 1 and a bomb factory belonging to the militants were destroyed in the Azaz district of Syria’s Aleppo.
The MQ-1 modelled drone took off from the ncirlik Air Base.
Two ISIL militants were killed as a result of the airstrike and many others were trapped in the building that was hit.
Turkey has been hit by a series of rocket attacks by ISIL from Syria since mid-January. In Kilis alone 18 people have been killed and many others have been wounded from such attacks in recent weeks.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government has recently demanded that the U.S. Army use its unmanned aerial vehicles loaded with Hellfire missiles more effectively against ISIL.
Ankara also demanded the deployment of High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) rocket launchers at Turkey’s Syria border according to strategies suggested by Turkey.
According to Turkish sources such moves would push ISIL militants southwards leaving the border province of Kilis out of battery ranges.
The Foreign Ministry has also demanded raising awareness on the Kilis issue by increasing dialogue with the Department of State as previous predator hits have missed ISIL targets.
There are currently four predators and 12 A-10 bomber aircraft at the ncirlik Air Base.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.