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It said the
strikes, in response to Islamic State rocket attacks which hit
the southern Turkish province of Kilis, destroyed six vehicles
and five Islamic State gun positions.
The border town of Kilis and surrounding area has been hit
frequently by rocket fire from Islamic State-controlled Syrian
territory in recent months, killing civilians.
In Sunday's strikes, Turkish howitzers and multiple rocket
launchers first hit Islamic State targets about 12 km (seven
miles) south of the border, then four drones that took off from
the Incirlik base in southern Turkey destroyed further targets,
the military said.
Turkey has repeatedly fired back at Islamic State positions
under its rules of engagement, but has said it needs greater
support from Western allies, citing the difficulty of hitting
moving targets with howitzers.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was quoted as saying last week
that the United States would deploy a rocket launcher system
near the stretch of border that has come under attack. A senior
U.S. military official confirmed the matter was under discussion
but declined to comment further.
(Reporting by Orhan Coskun; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by
Seda Sezer and Andrew Heavens)
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