incirlik Archives

Germany Starts Military Withdrawal From Turkish Incirlik Airbase

July 9, 2017 by administrator

Germany started on Sunday the withdrawal of its forces from the Turkish Incirlik airbase, what was approved by Bundestag in June following Berlin’s row with Ankara, German media reported.

BERLIN (Sputnik) – First of all, Berlin will pull out tanker aircraft and reconnaissance Tornado jets, Der Spiegel magazine reported, citing its sources.

The Tornado jets will reportedly be withdrawn from Turkey to Germany until the end of July. After that, in a month and a half, the aircraft will be moved to a base in Jordan.

The conflict between Berlin and Ankara dates back to May, when Turkey blocked a group of German lawmakers from visiting servicemen stationed at Incirlik, which has been used by Berlin to carry out reconnaissance flights as part of the international operation against against the Daesh (outlawed in Russia) terrorist organization. Mustafa Yeneroglu, a Turkish lawmaker representing the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), told Sputnik that the decision to ban German lawmakers from entering the base was made due to the threat posed by politicians who supported the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group listed as a terrorist organization in Turkey.

To resolve the dispute between the two states, the German government backed the relocation of German troops from the Incirlk base. According to German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, the German military airplanes and equipment will be moved to airfield Azraq in northern Jordan.

Germany: Transfer of German troops from Incirlik Turkey to Jordan to start in July

June 18, 2017 by administrator

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen has told German media that Bundeswehr troops will begin pulling out from a Turkish air base in July. The move comes amid strained relations between the two NATO allies.

The withdrawal of German troop from the Turkish air base in Incirlik to new base in Jordan is expected to take around three months, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen told German media on Sunday.

“Until the end of June, our flight plans as part of the anti-“Islamic State” coalition are set,” she was quoted of saying in the Bild am Sonntag newspaper. “After that, we’ll be transferring our tanker aircraft as quickly as possible to Jordan.”

Germany has more than 250 military personnel stationed at Incirlik who fly Tornado surveillance missions over Syria and refueling flights for partner nations in the coalition against IS.

Von der Leyen also warned that the transfer will temporarily put the Bundeswehr’s mission in the Middle East on hold. However, troops would be ready to be deployed from the new base in Jordan by around mid-July, she added.

Moving heavy artillery, such as Tornado surveillance aircraft and the required technology will take longer. “Starting from October, the reconnaissance Tornados will start flying again, according to our timetable,” von der Leyen said.

Most important was keeping the transition phase in which planes will be unable to fly as short as possible, as well as the security of the troops, she added.

Strained relations between NATO ally

The decision to pull out of the Turkish base at Incirlik comes on the back of difficult diplomatic relations between NATO members Germany and Turkey.

Last month, Ankara blocked a German parliamentary delegation from visiting Bundeswehr troops the base, marking the second time that Turkey had done so. Turkish officials said their decision was a response to Germany granting asylum to Turkish military personnel accused of participating in a failed coup last year – a move that reportedly enraged Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

While there are fears that the dispute could have damaging implications for NATO, the organization maintains that it will have no bearing on the alliance’s military activities.

German troops at Incirlik, Turkey ‘ready for a transfer’

June 5, 2017 by administrator

In light of Turkey’s decision to block a lawmakers’ visit, Sigmar Gabriel said that Germany would soon start the process of finding another location for its troops. The defense minister said Jordan is one possibility.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Monday said that Turkey will continue to block a delegation of German lawmakers from visiting the strategic Incirlik air base.

“At the moment, a visit to the NATO base in Konya is possible, not Incirlik,” Cavusoglu said at a joint press conference in Ankara on Monday with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel (photo.)

In Berlin later Monday, Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said the troops at Incirlik would be moved to a base in Jordan. “It is unacceptable that our deputies cannot visit the troops,” she said. “We are ready for a transfer,” she said, adding that a “comparable alternative” had been identified at the Azraq air base in Jordan and that King Abdullah supported the move.

The German cabinet is to “discuss and decide” an eventual move on Wednesday, von der Leyen added.

“We’ll now discuss and decide upon our future approach on Wednesday together in the cabinet,” von der Leyen said. “Incirlik is a good airbase for the fight against Islamic State, but we can’t accept not being able to visit our soldiers.”

Germany has over 250 military personnel stationed at Incirlik. They fly Tornado surveillance missions over Syria and refuelling flights for partner nations in the coalition against so-called “Islamic State.”

Visit blocked

Last month, Ankara blocked the delegation from making the visit, marking the second time Turkey had done so. Turkish officials said their decision was a response to Germany granting asylum to Turkish military personnel accused of participating in a failed.

“If Germany takes one step forward toward us, we will always take two steps further,” Cavusoglu said. “We would not like to see members of FETO (Fethullah Terror Organization) take shelter in friendly country Germany.”

‘We must transfer German soldiers’

Germany’s foreign minister said that Turkey’s decision effectively means that Berlin will have to withdraw the Bundeswehr deployment from the airbase.

“Turkey has made clear that, for domestic reasons, it cannot approve visits of all lawmakers,” Gabriel said.

“I regret that, but Turkey must understand that for domestic political reasons, we must transfer German soldiers out of Incirlik … In this situation, the Bundestag will ask the government to find another location for the German soldiers in Incirlik.”

Short-term setback

Analysts have warned of the possible impact the withdrawal could have on the upcoming operation to recapture the de facto capital of IS: Raqqa in Syria.

But Major Rayk Hähnlein, defense expert at the Berlin-based German Institute for International and Security Affairs, told DW last month that while a withdrawal would have a short-term impact on the mission, it wouldn’t undermine the entire operation.

“If prepared well and with full support from Jordan and US partners on the Jordanian base, Germany’s absence would only be felt for several days or a week,” Hähnlein said.

Merkel threatens to pull troops from Turkey’s Incirlik military base

May 25, 2017 by administrator

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has threatened to withdraw German soldiers from the Turkish air base in Incirlik. The statement follows a year-long row over allowing German lawmakers to visit soldiers stationed there.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel made the comments ahead of a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after a renewed row over letting German lawmakers have access to troops stationed in Turkey.

“I will make it very clear to the Turkish president during our talks that it is indispensable for our soldiers to be able to be visited by members of the German Bundestag, as ours is a parliamentary military,” Merkel said during her trip to Brussels to attend the NATO summit, where Erdogan will also be in attendance.

“Otherwise we will have to abandon Incirlik,” Merkel added.

Erdogan made flippant comments about the prospect of Germany leaving the base the previous day, saying that if Germany decided to leave the base he would simply say “Auf Wiedersehen.”

Broken relationship

The row between Turkey and Germany over allowing German parliamentarians access to the base has been ongoing for about a year but escalated once more last week when the Turkish government refused to grant visits for lawmakers once more.

Around 250 German soldiers are stationed at the military facility, supporting the US-led coalition against the so-called “Islamic State” (IS) in neighboring Syria and Iraq with reconnaissance flights. Germany also has a refueling jet on the base in Turkey that helps fighter jets from other nations in their fight against IS.

The German government has taken initial steps to assess whether the troops could be moved to another country in the region, with Jordan being one option under discussion.

Turkish-German relations have reached a low point, as the erstwhile allies have run into a series of disagreements in recent times. In addition to the controversy surrounding parliamentary visits to German troops, arrests of German nationals, in particular journalists, under the ongoing state of emergency in Turkey and conflicting strategies for achieving peace in Syria have turned things sour between the two countries.

Refugee crisis

Another bone of contention between Turkey and the European Union at large has been the migrant situation, with Turkey helping to keep hundreds of thousands of migrants at bay following a 2016 migrant deal. To this end, Erdogan also met with European Council chief Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker during the NATO summit in Brussels.

Turkey had agreed to curb the flood of migrants into Europe, in return for visa-free travel for Turks to Europe, among other conditions. Brussels, however, said it first wants to see Ankara modify its anti-terrorism laws, which it regards as too broad and far-reaching, often infringing upon fundamental human rights issues especially under the ongoing 10-month state of emergency.

Terrorist State of Turkey Will Permit German MPs at Incirlik if Bundestag deny #ArmenianGenocide

August 29, 2016 by administrator

After banning a delegation of high-ranking German officials from entering Incirlik Air Base in July, Turkey now says that German parliament members can enter if the country amends its stance on some of the darker points of the country’s history. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that a German delegation would be allowed on the Incirlik Air Base if “Germany takes the necessary steps.”He didn’t specify what these steps should be at first, but the officials were denied entry after Germany passed a resolution declaring the 1915 mass killing of millions of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire (current day Turkey) as “genocide.”

Cavusoglu’s insistence that people who “manipulate” the history of Turkey “in an unfair manner” would not be allowed on the base lent credence to the notion that the resolution concerning the Armenian Genocide is at the root of the issue. On Monday the Turkish government confirmed that “necessary steps” would entail the German government renouncing the resolution, and then declaring that they do not support it.

The blockage caused some German MPs to call for the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, to pull their troops from the base and shift operations to another locale. Cem Özdemir, co-leader of Germany’s Green Party said, “As lawmakers who send soldiers to places, we must know where they are, how they are and be able to talk to the soldiers…If that is not possible in Turkey, then the soldiers must come back to Germany.”

In This Video How Turkish despotic Ruler Erdogan simultaneously Blackmail EU, U.S. Russia.

Report 1,000s Turkish forces surround NATO’s Incirlik air base for ‘inspection’ amid rumors of coup attempt

July 30, 2016 by administrator

A military aircraft is pictured on the runway at Incirlik Air Base, in the outskirts of the city of Adana, southeastern Turkey. © Stringer / AFP

Some 7,000 armed police with heavy vehicles have surrounded and blocked the Incirlik air base in Adana used by NATO forces, already restricted in the aftermath of a failed coup. Unconfirmed reports say troops were sent to deal with a new coup attempt.

Hurriyet reported earlier that Adana police had been tipped off about a new coup attempt, and forces were immediately alerted. The entrance to the base was closed off.

Security forces armed with rifles and armored TOMA vehicles used by Turkish riot police could be seen at the site in photos taken by witnesses.

Turkey’s minister for EU Affairs downplayed the situation in a Twitter post, saying a “security inspection” was carried out.

On Thursday, a huge rally marched towards the NATO base, as people with loudspeakers chanted anti-American and anti-Israel slogans. The demonstrators claim that the US had a hand in the failed July 15 coup attempt in which 270 people died. Tens of thousands people, including members of the military, police, judiciary, media, and civil service, have been arrested in connection with the coup, which Turkish officials say was organized by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, Erdogan’s former ally, who is now his most hated rival.

VIDEO: in front of #NATO's #Incirlik air base in #Turkey. #Erdogan supporters & security forces surrounding base.pic.twitter.com/SxKbSRYQHJ

— Syria Ceasefire (@Syria_Ceasefire) July 31, 2016

Source; https://www.rt.com/news/354042-turkish-police-incirlik-nato-coup/

U.S. Call Turkey ally Turks Yell ‘Death to U.S.A’ Near Turkey’s Incirlik Base, Home to US 50 Nukes

July 28, 2016 by administrator

Over five thousand joined anti-American demonstrations yelling “death to US” and demanding an immediate closure of the Incirlik Air Base for over five hours on Thursday before Turkish police came in and broke up the protesters before they could arrive at major NATO military facility, home to nearly 90 US tactical nuclear weapons.

On Thursday, a group of protesters swelled into several thousand ardent anti-American demonstrators heading towards the NATO Air Base at Incirlik, where they look to demand US forces immediately leave the country. Nationalists in Turkey have been emboldened since the failed coup attempt against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with the country’s Labor Minister telling HaberTurk news that Washington was behind the coup attempt and with Prime Minister Binali Yildirim threatening all-out war against the United States.

A critical turning point may have been the massive fire that broke out near the Izmir Air Base this weekend, with T24 news reporting that officials suspected that the cause was anti-American sabotage. The blaze came hours after President Erdogan’s leading Islamist newspaper, Yeni Safak, printed the image of the NATO International Security Assistance Force Commander, US Army General John Campbell, as a leading force behind the coup along with Fethullah Gulen.

The situation at Incirlik Air Base threatens to be even more perilous, with thousands of protesters chanting “death to the US” as they head towards one of NATO’s most important strategic military bases. The facility, only 60 miles (96km) from the Turkish-Syrian border, is home to as many as 90 tactical nuclear weapons, creating the danger that these weapons could fall into the hands of international terrorists.

Turkish Police Raid Incirlik Airbase Where US-Led Coalition Jets Are Based

July 18, 2016 by administrator

The Turkish police are raiding the Incirlik airbase where the US-led coalition’s jets are based, Hurriyet reported.

The Turkish prosecutor’s office with police are conducting searches at the Incirlik base.

Turkish prosecutors and police are conducting searches at Turkey’s Incirlik air base in connection with the failed coup, Turkish media reported. The base is used by both the Turkish and US air forces.

The authorities entered the base in southern Turkey on Monday, state-run Anadolu news agency reported, adding that the investigation is connected with the coup attempt.

Over the weekend, the airbase’s commander, General Bekir Ercan Van was detained at Incirlik by Turkish authorities along with over a dozen lower ranking officers. They all stand accused of complicity in the attempted coup.

Turkey authorities impose lockdown at İncirlik air base: US consulate

July 16, 2016 by administrator

ISTANBUL – Agence France-Presse,

Turkish authorities imposed July 16 a security lockdown at the İncirlik air base in the southern province of Adana used by U.S. and other coalition forces in the fight against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria, the U.S. consulate said.

“Local authorities are denying movements on to and off of İncirlik Air Base. The power there has also been cut,” the U.S. consulate in Adana said in a message after a 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.

Gen. Bekir Ercan, Adana İncirlik 10th Adana Tanker Base Commander, was among those who were arrested.

July/16/2016

Germany may pull out troops from Turkish airbase in Incirlik

July 12, 2016 by administrator

Germany may withdraw its troops from the Incirlik airbase in southern Turkey after its delegation was barred from visiting the facility, parliamentary speaker Norbert Lammert told local media, Sputnik News reports.

“It should probably be underscored again that Bundestag only allows sending German soldiers on international missions abroad when they are needed and welcome there,” Lammert told the German newspaper Sueddeutschen Zeitung on Monday.

The lawmaker, who presides over Bundestag, the lower house of the national parliament, added that German troops “will not stay for long where they are not welcome”.

The German parliament’s decision in June to label the 1915 massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as genocide soured relations between NATO allies, prompting Ankara to bar German lawmakers from visiting the Incirlik airbase last month.