Anti-ISIS operations out of Turkish air base resume after failed coup

U.S. operations against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) flown out of a Turkish air base have resumed following last week’s coup attempt in that country.

{mosads}“After close coordination with our Turkish allies, they have reopened their airspace to military aircraft. As a result, counter-ISIL coalition air operations at all air bases in Turkey have resumed,” the Pentagon said Sunday, using an alternate acronym for ISIS.

Incirlik air base in southern Turkey has become a key launch pad for coalition airstrikes against ISIS. About 1,500 U.S. troops and personnel are based there.

After a failed attempt Friday by a faction from the Turkish military to wrest power from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ankara closed its airspace to military aircraft. At least 265 people died in the coup attempt, and about 6,000 Turkish military personnel have been taken into custody.

Incirlik was untouched during the failed coup. But as a result of Turkey closing its airspace, anti-ISIS operations out of Incirlik were temporarily halted Saturday.

Though flights have resumed, U.S. facilities at Incirlik continued to operate on internal power sources as of Sunday, the Pentagon said. 

“U.S. facilities at Incirlik are still operating on internal power sources, but we hope to restore commercial power soon,” the statement said. “Base operations have not been affected.”