The U.S. says it is withdrawing a dozen warplanes from a Turkish air base, barely a month after they arrived to help Turkey protect its air space and to conduct airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq.<br />The decision was announced Wednesday by U.S. European Command, one day after Defense Secretary Ash Carter visited Incirlik Air Base, where the six F-15 Eagles and six F-15 Strike Eagles arrived last month.<br />A Pentagon spokesman, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, said the timing was a coincidence.<br />The U.S. still has 12 A-10 close-air support aircraft based at Incirlik, as well as drone aircraft.<br />During his visit to Incirlik, Carter said he is looking for ways to do more to hasten the defeat of the Islamic State group.
