The United States has deployed a number of attack aircraft to an airbase in southern Turkey, a US military official says. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP on Tuesday that 12 A-10 ground-attack planes arrived at Incirlik over the weekend. They have already been scheduled to help the US-led coalition fighting against Daesh (ISIL) terrorists in Iraq and Syria, the official added. The official claimed that the deployment had "added capability" to the coalition's fight against ISIL. Known by soldiers on the ground as “Warthogs,” A-10 is a tactical military aircraft that has a primary role of carrying out airstrikes with greater precision than bombers. The planes are heavily strengthened and designed to withstand direct hits from armor-piercing rounds. "There's more significant risk than other aircraft due to the flight path they typically fly," the official said. The United States has increased its militaristic activities in the Middle East region after Russia launched an air campaign last month against terrorists wreaking havoc in Syria. Russia has carried out scores of airstrikes against terrorists there, killing hundreds of them. Earlier this month, Russia fired 26 long-range cruise missiles from its warships in the Caspian Sea against terrorists in Syria. Unnamed US officials have told The Associated Press that Russia has directed parts of its military campaign against US-backed terrorists and other extremist groups in an effort to weaken them. They say the CIA-trained militants are now under Russian missile strikes with little prospect of rescue by their American supporters.