Saudi warplanes to arrive at Turkish base on Friday
Two C-130 military cargo planes, carrying about 30 Saudi Air Force personnel and military equipment had already arrived at İncirlik on Tuesday to prepare for the deployment of fighter jets, the private broadcaster CNN Türk reported, citing diplomatic sources. Four F-15s will arrive at the base on Friday. Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, also on Thursday, said the Saudi warplanes are expected to arrive at İncirlik "today or tomorrow."
With the arrival of the Saudi jets, there will be five foreign countries with aircraft at İncirlik for military missions in Syria. This will also mark the first time Saudi warplanes have been deployed at a Turkish base for military operations.
Çavuşoğlu announced earlier this month that Saudi jets were to be deployed at İncirlik to take part in missions against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). A Saudi official later said that Saudi jets have been at the base but Turkish officials did not confirm their arrival until now.
Saudi Arabia has also said it was prepared to deploy ground troops to Syria to fight ISIL if the US-led coalition against the extremist group agrees to the offer.