US to pull some warplanes out of Turkey

A dozen US warplanes that were stationed in Turkey in support of the fight against Islamic State jihadists are being withdrawn from the region, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

But aircraft from the anti-IS coalition will likely be making increased use of the Incirlik air base in southeastern Turkey in coming months, said Laura Seal, a Pentagon spokeswoman.

The announcement came a day after US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter visited Incirlik, and after President Barack Obama said the United States would intensify its fight against the IS group.

The 12 US Air Force F-15 Eagles and Strike Eagles will return to the RAF Lakenheath base in England. Officials said their deployment in Turkey was always meant to be temporary.

"Our air campaign draws upon a variety of aircraft from different operating locations, and the arrival and departure of deployed aircraft is accounted for in our planning process," Seal said.

She noted that 12 A-10 ground-attack planes remained at Incirlik, along with drones, Turkish F-16s and other aircraft from the US-led coalition, which has been bombing IS targets in Iraq and Syria for about 16 months.

German airforce runs first refuelling mission over Syria
Berlin (AFP) Dec 16, 2015 - Germany's military staged its first aerial refuelling mission of allied fighter jets targeting Syria's Islamic State jihadist group, the armed forces said Wednesday.

The A310 MRTT refuelled two combat aircraft Tuesday before returning from its five-hour mission shortly after midnight to the southern Turkey military base at Incirlik, said a Bundeswehr spokesman, without identifying the other planes involved.

The tanker aircraft is part of Berlin's deployment to aid the multinational anti-IS coalition, which also includes six German Tornado surveillance jets, a frigate helping protect the French Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier and up to 1,200 troops.

Unlike France, the United States and Britain, Germany is not conducting bombing missions.