The United States and Turkey launched a joint military offensive against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) on Wednesday aimed at retaking the northern Syria border town of Jarabulus.
{mosads}A U.S. defense official confirmed on background that unmanned and manned aircraft, including A-10 attack jets and F-16 fighter jets, are conducting airstrikes in support of Turkish and Syrian rebel operations. The U.S. has conducted eight strikes so far, the official said.
Jarabulus is one of the terrorist group’s last remaining supply routes outside of its capital in Raqqa, Syria.
The operation, which began as Vice President Biden visits Ankara, also is a bid to rein in U.S.-backed Kurdish militants, according to The Wall Street Journal.
U.S. special operations forces inside Syria have partnered with members of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, or YPG, which Turkey considers terrorists and an extension of Kurdish militants in Turkey vying for autonomy.
Turkey’s incursion into Syria comes because it feared the YPG would seize Jarabulus first. It also comes days after a deadly suicide attack at a Kurdish wedding that killed 54 people.
A U.S. official told The Wall Street Journal that the operation, also supported by U.S. surveillance drones and special operations forces in Turkey, has “put a lid” on Turkish concerns about Kurdish advances in Jarabulus.
“We don’t want a direct clash between those forces and the Turks,” the official told the Journal. “That’s not a good scenario for anybody. We’ve made that clear to the Turks.”
The U.S. is also prepared to provide air support to the Syrian rebels if needed, the official said.
“We are syncing up with the Turks,” the official said. “We have full visibility on what they are doing.”
Turkish news agency Andolu reported that the Syrian rebels have already retaken the village of Keklijah, three miles west of Jarabulus.
–This report was updated at 2:39 p.m.