Turkey authorities impose lockdown at Incirlik air base: US

Obama convenes national security team amid Turkey unrest

AFP, ISTANBUL: Turkish authorities on Saturday imposed a security lockdown at the Incirlik air base in the southern province of Adana used by US and other coalition forces in the fight against jihadists in Syria, the US consulate said.
“Local authorities are denying movements on to and off of Incirlik Air Base. The power there has also been cut,” the US consulate in Adana said in a message after an coup attempt aimed at toppling the government was thwarted by the authorities.
“Please avoid the air base until normal operations have been restored,” it added, without giving further details.
There was no indication for the reason of the lockdown by the Turkish authorities. But it came as security forces were arrested thousands of Turkish soldiers across the country for involvement in the coup.
After months of negotiations, Turkey last year agreed to allow the United States to use Incirlik to carry out lethal raids against jihadists in Syria and it has since become a key hub.
Meanwhile, the US military command in Europe has ordered American forces across Turkey to take maximum protective
measures following the attempted military coup there, a US military source said Saturday.
The US military has around 2,200 service members and civilian employees in Turkey, which is a NATO member and a crucial regional partner for Washington.
About 1,500 of them are stationed at Incirlik, the military base in southern Turkey from which American warplanes have launched bombing missions against the Islamic State group.
US forces in Turkey were now at the “Delta” force protection level, such as is invoked when a terrorist attack is taking place or appears imminent, the American defense official said.
“We are firmly committed to making every possible effort to ensure the safety and
security of our service members, civilians, their families and our facilities,” the official said.
At the Delta level, all non-essential activities are suspended and all resources placed in defensive positions in case of attack.
An American military official had confirmed late Friday that operations against the Islamic State group were continuing from Incirlik despite the attempted coup.
In the meantime, US President Barack Obama was huddling with top national security advisers in the White House Situation Room Saturday to address the destabilizing coup attempt in Turkey.
The government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears to have repelled the plot, but the situation remained fraught and tensions between Washington and Ankara appeared to be growing.
In a statement, the White House said that Obama had convened a meeting with “his national security and broader foreign policy team to update him on the situation in Turkey.”
During the coup, Obama offered vocal support for Turkey’s “democratically elected government” and urged all parties to “avoid any violence or bloodshed.”
But there were growing concerns of a government crackdown on Erdogan’s opponents.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a key Obama ally on the world stage, has urged Erdogan to deal with coup plotters under the rule of law.
The Turkish authorities have imposed a security lockdown and cut power to the Incirlik air base in southern Turkey which is used by US forces.
Separately, a US defense official said that American forces across Turkey had been placed on maximum alert.
In public appearances since returning to Istanbul, Erdogan has blamed the putsch on followers of Pennsylvania-based opposition figure Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish preacher with a large following.
State John Kerry on Saturday said the United States will help Turkey investigate the failed coup and he invited Ankara to share any evidence it has against Gulen.
He added that Turkey had not yet issued a formal extradition request.
Even before Friday’s bloody drama, Obama had voiced concern about Erdogan’s treatment of the press and his respect for the rule of law.

 

Turkey authorities impose lockdown at Incirlik air base: US

Obama convenes national security team amid Turkey unrest

AFP, ISTANBUL: Turkish authorities on Saturday imposed a security lockdown at the Incirlik air base in the southern province of Adana used by US and other coalition forces in the fight against jihadists in Syria, the US consulate said. Local authorities are denying movements on to and off of Incirlik Air Base. The power there has also been cut, the US consulate in Adana said in a message after an coup attempt aimed at toppling the government was thwarted by the authorities. Please avoid the air base until normal operations have been restored, it added, without giving further details. There was no indication for the reason of the lockdown by the Turkish authorities. But it came as security forces were arrested thousands of Turkish soldiers across the country for involvement in the coup. After months of negotiations, Turkey last year agreed to allow the United States to use Incirlik to carry out lethal raids against jihadists in Syria and it has since become a key hub. Meanwhile, the US military command in Europe has ordered American forces across Turkey to take maximum protective measures following the attempted military coup there, a US military source said Saturday. The US military has around 2,200 service members and civilian employees in Turkey, which is a NATO member and a crucial regional partner for Washington. About 1,500 of them are stationed at Incirlik, the military base in southern Turkey from which American warplanes have launched bombing missions against the Islamic State group. US forces in Turkey were now at the Delta force protection level, such as is invoked when a terrorist attack is taking place or appears imminent, the American defense official said. We are firmly committed to making every possible effort to ensure the safety and security of our service members, civilians, their families and our facilities, the official said. At the Delta level, all non-essential activities are suspended and all resources placed in defensive positions in case of attack. An American military official had confirmed late Friday that operations against the Islamic State group were continuing from Incirlik despite the attempted coup. In the meantime, US President Barack Obama was huddling with top national security advisers in the White House Situation Room Saturday to address the destabilizing coup attempt in Turkey. The government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears to have repelled the plot, but the situation remained fraught and tensions between Washington and Ankara appeared to be growing. In a statement, the White House said that Obama had convened a meeting with his national security and broader foreign policy team to update him on the situation in Turkey. During the coup, Obama offered vocal support for Turkeys democratically elected government and urged all parties to avoid any violence or bloodshed. But there were growing concerns of a government crackdown on Erdogans opponents. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a key Obama ally on the world stage, has urged Erdogan to deal with coup plotters under the rule of law. The Turkish authorities have imposed a security lockdown and cut power to the Incirlik air base in southern Turkey which is used by US forces. Separately, a US defense official said that American forces across Turkey had been placed on maximum alert. In public appearances since returning to Istanbul, Erdogan has blamed the putsch on followers of Pennsylvania-based opposition figure Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish preacher with a large following. State John Kerry on Saturday said the United States will help Turkey investigate the failed coup and he invited Ankara to share any evidence it has against Gulen. He added that Turkey had not yet issued a formal extradition request. Even before Fridays bloody drama, Obama had voiced concern about Erdogans treatment of the press and his respect for the rule of law.