16 July 2016•Update: 20 July 2016
By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON
Air operations at Incirlik Airbase in the southern Turkish city of Adana have been halted following the Turkish government’s decision to close its airspace to military aircraft, the Pentagon said Saturday.
Turkish military aircraft fired on major Turkish cities in an attempted coup overnight Friday, prompting Ankara to close its airspace. At least 161 people died in the violence.
Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said that U.S. officials are working with their Turkish counterparts to resume air operations out of Incirlik “as soon as possible.”
The airbase, which is home to the Turkish Air Force and the U.S.’ 39th Air Base Wing, has been a key part of the anti-Daesh campaign, with the U.S.-led coalition flying sorties and reconnaissance flights from the site.
Cook said that US. facilities at Incirlik are operating on internal power following a loss of commercial power to the base. He said the power cut “has not affected base operations.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. is working to fully account for all Pentagon personnel in Turkey, Cook said, stressing that all indications point to everyone being “safe and secure”.
“We will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of our service members, our civilians, their families and our facilities,” he said.
