The Turkish Incirlik airbase in Adana, Turkey, which houses NATO forces, U.S. forces and at least 50 nuclear devices, experienced massive protests this week, yet the media and President Barack Obama have been conspicuously silent.
Turkish citizens stormed the base, protesting U.S. presence there. RT reported that regional media was covering the protests, and social media reports indicated that there may have been up to 1,000 protesters present.
According to RT, protesters were heard yelling anti-America and anti-Israel slogans and seen burning the U.S. and Israeli flag.
According to the U.S. State Department, the consulate was closed during the protests.
#Turkey Protesters reportedly marching towards Incirlik airbase for anti-US rally – @thevocaleurope pic.twitter.com/5COC3GSN0f
— Derek Bisaccio (@DerekBisaccio) July 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/Antidemokratur/status/758703748814340096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
US citizens in Turkey: Demonstration expected from Merkez Park to Incirlik Air Force Base 6pm July 28. Consulate in Adana will close at 4pm.
— Travel – State Dept (@TravelGov) July 28, 2016
The U.S. State Department also issued a travel warning July 26 that authorized “the voluntary departure of family members of employees posted to the U.S. Embassy in Ankara and U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul, Turkey,” which replaced the travel warning put in place following the coup in Turkey.
The base has been in the media lately in relation to the Turkish coup that took place on July 15. Turkish prosecutors and police have conducted searches of the base and detained air base commander Gen. Bekir Ercan Van there along with a dozen officers of lower rank who were accused of being part of the coup.