In brief: Turkey promises ‘extensive’ IS fight

ANKARA, Turkey – An armed drone taking off from Turkey launched a strike on the Islamic State group on Wednesday, a U.S. official said, as Turkey’s foreign minister said American aircraft had begun to arrive at a Turkish base close to the border with Syria and an “extensive” fight against the extremists would begin soon.

Also Wednesday, Syria’s foreign minister said Damascus would support efforts against IS, as long as the fight is coordinated with the Syrian government.

Ending its reluctance, Turkey carried out airstrikes against IS targets in Syria late last month and agreed to allow U.S. warplanes to use Incirlik Air Base for operations, taking a more front-line role in the U.S.-led coalition’s fight against the extremists.

Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said a drone had launched an airstrike from Turkey for the first time Wednesday, but provided no further details.

He said the U.S. was planning to fly manned aircraft out of Turkey but that had not yet begun.

Scores of migrants rescued; 25 dead

ROME – A fishing boat crowded with migrants overturned Wednesday in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya as rescuers approached, and the Italian coast guard and Irish navy said at least 367 people were saved, although 25 bodies also were found in the latest human smuggling tragedy.

Coast guard Cmdr. Filippo Marini said the rescue operation, involving seven ships, was still underway several hours after the capsizing. Survivors indicated that between 400 and 600 people were aboard the smugglers’ boat, he said.

Suspect held in slaying of five

MEXICO CITY – Mexico City’s prosecutor said one person has been detained in the case of a photojournalist found slain along with four women.

Rodolfo Rios Garza said the person was identified by a fingerprint found in the apartment and that it registered to someone with a criminal record.

Photojournalist Ruben Espinosa was found dead Friday, shot in the head, his body bound and tortured. The attackers also killed his friend, Nadia Vera, and two of her roommates, as well as their 40-year-old housekeeper.