US to deploy rocket launchers in Turkey in Daesh fight

Ankara: Turkey has struck a deal with the United States to deploy American light multiple rocket launchers on its border with Syria to combat Daesh, according to the foreign ministry.

The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) “will be deployed on the Turkish border in May as part of an agreement” with Washington, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in an interview published Tuesday.

The system is being brought in “so we will be able to hit Daesh targets more effectively,” he told the Haberturk newspaper.

Turkey, a member of US-led coalition against Daesh, has increased its strikes in Syria after a series of deadly attacks on its soil blamed on the terrorists.

Ankara also allows US jets to use its air base in southern Turkey for air bombardments on the extremist group.

In recent weeks, the Turkish border town of Kilis has come under frequent rocket attack from Syria, prompting the army to respond with howitzer fire.

The rockets fired from Daesh-held territory into Turkey have killed 17 people and wounded 61 since January 18, sparking protests in a town already under pressure as the only place where Syrian refugees now outnumber Turkish locals.

Cavusoglu said HIMARS would allow Turkey to hit Daesh positions within a 90-kilometre range, while Turkish artillery has a more limited range of 40 kilometres.

The aim is to gain control of the so-called Manbij Gap, a backdoor border route favoured by Daesh for smuggling terrorists into and out of Syria.

Turkey wants to establish a safe zone in the 98 kilometre stretch between Manbij and the border in which to shelter Syrian refugees, the foreign minister said.