Incirlik base is still open for U.S. Air Force - U.S. State Department
By Gunay Hasanova
The U.S. Air Forces can still use the military base Incirlik in Turkey for the application of air strikes on the positions of the terrorist organization “Islamic State” (IS), said US State Department spokesman John Kirby.
“Turkey is a member of NATO and an important strategic partner,” he said. “In addition, Turkey is a key country in the fight against the IS.”
Commenting on the attempt of military coup in Turkey, Kirby said that the U.S., as they mentioned before, condemns it.
“We remember that a serious coup attempt happened in Turkey, and Ankara, in turn, is conducting an investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice,” said Kirby.
At the same time the United States urged Turkey to respect the rule of law and be confident in their democratic institutions, said the representative of U.S. State Department.
Previously, some Turkish media reported that the the military base "Incirlik" allegedly will be shut down for the U.S.
Incirlik airbase was the “think tank” of plotters in Turkey, the Sabah newspaper reported on July 28.
Reportedly, a day before the military coup attempt, the generals supporting Fethullah Gulen gathered at Incirlik airbase for a secret meeting.
The fact was revealed after the testimony of one of the detained Turkish generals who were involved in the military coup attempt.
Moreover, reportedly, a U.S. lieutenant general, whose name hasn’t been disclosed yet, also participated in this meeting.
On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them.
However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people excluding the coup plotters and over 2,000 people were wounded.
Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20.
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