Turkey launches Syria raids with US-led coalition

Turkish warplanes have for the first time joined raids by the US-led coalition against Islamic State positions in Syria, the foreign ministry said Saturday, after Washington urged Ankara to play a full role in the battle against the jihadists.

"Our fighter planes ... along with planes from the coalition yesterday (Friday) evening began joint operations against (ISIS) targets which pose a threat to the security of our country," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.

Turkey, which had been accused of complacency towards the ISIS fighters in neighbouring Syria, last month launched what it called a war on terror on two fronts: targeting ISIS jihadists in Syria and also Kurdish PKK rebels and their bases in northern Iraq.

US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter last week called on Turkey to commit to a full part in the US-led air campaign and take better control of its border with Syria.

Carter said Ankara had agreed in principle to join the anti-IS coalition but should add its own fighter planes to the "air tasking order," the military structure coordinating strikes.