The U.S. military said on Wednesday it was removing 12 fighter jets from Incirlik air base in Turkey after sending them there last month to bolster the fight against Islamic State and to help reassure Turkey after Russian incursions its airspace.
The Pentagon played down the decision, saying the jets had completed what was always meant to be a temporary deployment within Europe. It noted new commitments by allies France, Britain and Germany since the high-profile U.S. deployment.
"I wouldn't read anything into us moving these out of there as any sort of less combat capability that we have within the coalition of being able to strike in Syria," said Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis.