Turkey joins anti-IS coalition air strikes

Turkish fighters took part in the US-led coalition air strikes against targets of the Islamic State (IS) militant group for the first time, according to a written statement from the Turkish foreign ministry on Saturday.

"Our warplanes have since Friday night started joint aerial campaign with the coalition war jets against Daesh (IS) targets which pose threat to our country's security," said the statement, Xinhua reported.

The joint air strikes were conducted as part of a technical agreement between Turkey and the United States signed on Monday after months of talks.

In July, Turkey carried out the first air strikes against IS targets in Syria, but the two countries have waited for the deal to launch joint operations against the militant group.

In early August, the US warplanes started to be given access to Turkey's key Incirlik airbase in southern Adana province for air campaigns against IS militants in Syria.

A suspected IS suicide bomber killed 34 people on July 20 in Suruc town of Sanliurfa province near Syrian border. It is believed that the incident propelled Ankara to move against the extremist grouping.