Turkey questioning US-led coalition presence at air base
ANKARA - Turks are questioning the presence of US-led coalition forces at the Incirlik air base in southern Turkey, a deputy prime minister said on Thursday, reflecting frustration at what Ankara sees as a lack of support for its operations in Syria.
Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak told broadcaster A Haber that the issue of the Incirlik air base, used by NATO and the US-led coalition, was on the government's agenda.
Turkey launched an incursion into Syria in August to push Islamic State from its border and prevent Kurdish militia fighters taking ground in their wake. It has questioned why the United States, which backs some Kurdish groups, has not lent support to its latest push around the Syrian town of al-Bab.
A US military spokesman said on Wednesday that the United States was in talks with Turkey about future support around al-Bab and that there was likely to be "some ongoing support".
