Six F-15Es have arrived Thursday at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, to take part in airstrikes against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq, according to U.S. Air Forces in Europe.
The aircraft come from the 48th Fighter Wing based at Royal Air Force Lakenheath in Britain, according to a USAFE news release says. The F-15E is designed for both air-to-air and ground attack missions in all weather conditions.
The six F-15Es will join U.S., Turkish and other allied aircraft taking part in airstrikes against the Islamic State, said Maj. Sheryll Klinkel, a spokeswoman for USAFE. Their mission is different from the six F-15Cs that which arrived in Turkey on Nov. 6, which are tasked with protecting Turkish airspace, she said.
About 300 airmen are deployed along with the 12 F-15s.
In addition to the F-15s, the U.S. has 12 A-10s with the 75th Fighter Squadron from Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, currently deployed to Incirlik. Separately, about 300 airmen, including a Guardian Angel Weapons System, are deployed to Diyarbakir Air Base in Turkey to rescue any U.S. or coalition pilots who go down over Syria or Iraq.
