Transfer of German troops from Incirlik to Jordan to start in July 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.

AFP photo

Turkey looted all resources from Syria, from factories to money Syrians deposit 1.2 billion liras in Turkey’s banks in 2016

Syrians have deposited around 1.2 billion Turkish Liras ($409 million) in Turkish banks so far this year, the country’s official banking regulation authority said on June 14.

According to the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK), Syrians deposited 1,199,632,000 liras in Turkish banks in the first quarter of the year.

As the number of Syrians living in Turkey increases, the amount of the money Syrians deposit in Turkish banks is also increasing, the BDDK stated.

In 2012, assets of Syrians in Turkish banks totaled 311.2 million liras. In 2013 it had risen to 694.3 million liras, in 2014 to 733.8 million liras, and in 2015 to 1.2 billion liras.

Islam Memiş a financial analyst at Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, said rich Syrians had converted considerable amounts of their cash to U.S. dollars due to the loss in value of the Syrian lira.

“Rich Syrians have converted their cash money to dollars [and] invested in either real estate or the food sector. You can now see restaurants and kiosks with Arabic name plates everywhere in Turkey,” Memiş added.

June/15/2016

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

Turkey looted all resources from Syria, Syrians deposit 1.2 billion liras in Turkey’s banks in 2016