The United States got a boost on Thursday with Turkey and Cyprus allowing it to use their airspaces to conduct operations against Iraq.

Following a decision by Turkey's parliament, US warplanes will now be able to cross Turkey and strike Iraq.

"We have accepted the American request for flights within Cyprus airspace on condition that it does not endanger civil aviation," Kypros Chrysostomides, a Cyprus government spokesman, said.

Due to the island's strategic location in the eastern Mediterranean, the US asked for "some conveniences" including overflight and refuelling rights if necessary, the spokesman said.