Rabia İclal Turan
11 February 2023•Update: 12 February 2023
WASHINGTON
The US European Command (USEUCOM) said Friday it has positioned military capabilities, including the George HW Bush carrier in the Mediterranean Sea to help Türkiye’s search and rescue efforts following deadly earthquakes.
“The George Herbert Walker Bush Carrier Strike Group arrived in the eastern Mediterranean Sea within hours of notification on Feb. 7, and stands ready to provide logistics, medical, and rotary airlift support,” USEUCOM said in a statement.
A source speaking on condition of anonymity told Anadolu that the US carrier was positioned off the island of Rhodes in international waters.
The statement said a team from USEUCOM arrived at the Incirlik Air Base in Türkiye on Feb. 9 to determine “how the U.S. military can rapidly respond” to the support assistance requested by the Turkish government through USAID.
The US Army rotary wing aircraft have also been flying missions out of the Incirlik Air Base and began transporting first responders to quake-hit areas Feb. 7, it said.
UH-60 Black Hawks helicopters transported injured civilians to a local medical facility, said USEUCOM.
“Additional aircraft, including Black Hawks and CH-47 Chinooks are being sent to Incirlik and will be postured for potential follow-on missions to support any requests from Turkish medical professionals,” it said.
It added that the Incirlik Air Base has received more than 1,337 international aircraft sorties in support of earthquake relief assistance following the quakes hitting the southern provinces of the country.
"When an Ally or partner nation faces moments of incalculable disaster and tragic loss of human life, there's never a moment of hesitation from the United States to quickly respond to the needs of that nation," US Army Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, who leads USEUCOM, said in a statement.
"From search and rescue to medical assistance and humanitarian aid, our command is working with other U.S. government agencies to provide assistance requested by the government of Türkiye in the aftermath of this natural disaster,” he said.
“Compassion and determination are the driving forces behind every U.S. military member and civilian assisting Türkiye during these difficult days," he added.
