A dozen US warplanes that were stationed in Turkey in support of the fight against ISIS are being withdrawn from the region, AFP reports.
But aircraft from the anti-ISIS coalition will likely be making increased use of the Incirlik air base in southeastern Turkey in coming months, said Laura Seal, a Pentagon spokeswoman.
The announcement came a day after US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter visited Incirlik, and after President Barack Obama said the United States would intensify its fight against ISIS.
The 12 US Air Force F-15 Eagles and Strike Eagles will return to the RAF Lakenheath base in England. Officials said their deployment in Turkey was always meant to be temporary.
"Our air campaign draws upon a variety of aircraft from different operating locations, and the arrival and departure of deployed aircraft is accounted for in our planning process," Seal said.
She noted that 12 A-10 ground-attack planes remained at Incirlik, along with drones, Turkish F-16s and other aircraft from the US-led coalition, which has been bombing ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria for about 16 months.