Above Photo: From rt.com
Introduction: The protest occurred the day before US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Joseph Dunford was due to arrive in Turkey for an inspection of the base. Common Dreams reported:
Thousands of Turkish troops, citizens and police ‘surrounded’ the Incirlik air base it operates with the United States Saturday night — blocking all entrances to the air base with heavy vehicles and security forces sent to secure its perimeter.
Turkish authorities restored access to and from the key US air base early Sunday, local media reported, the day the U.S. top military official is scheduled to visit the country and tour the base.
The Incirlik air base, located in an urban neighborhood in the southern Turkey city of Adana, reopened following a meeting with “security officials.” Incirlik air base is used by US and NATO forces to launch air strikes and drone attacks on Syria and Iraq. The US stores an estimated 50 hydrogen nuclear bombs at the air base.
7,000 troops and police used armored cars and large trucks to block the gates earlier Sunday following intelligence that raised suspicion another coup was being plotted following the failed July 15th coup, Ihlas News Agency reported. The blockade lasted four hours, the agency said.
A crowd has been protesting near the Incirlik military base in Adana, Turkey. The facility houses US and NATO forces. The demonstrators are calling for the closure of the base, where arrests and searches were made in connection with the failed coup.
Regional television has been broadcasting the rally.
Reports on social media suggest up to 1,000 people have gathered to support the demonstration.
#Turkey Protesters reportedly marching towards Incirlik airbase for anti-US rally – @thevocaleurope pic.twitter.com/5COC3GSN0f
— Derek Bisaccio (@DerekBisaccio) July 28, 2016
Protesters have been shouting anti-American and anti-Israel slogans, according to an RT stringer.
İncirlik üssü yakınlarında toplanan gruplar üssün kapatılması talebiyle ABD ve darbe girişimini protesto ediyor
pic.twitter.com/7KmixdwlEY— PKK Analiz (@PKKAnaliz) July 28, 2016
Police have been deployed to block the entrance to the base, according to reports.
