Opposition leader urges Turkish gov't to close US base

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Leader of the Turkey's opposition Iyi (Good) Party on Tuesday urged the government to close a U.S. air base in southern Turkey following U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks on Turkey's anti-terrorism operation in northeastern Syria.

"If [the U.S.] shuts down the way that you have opened to advance on the terrorists [in northern Syria], close down the Incirlik and Kurecik," Meral Aksener told her party's MPs on Tuesday.

She was referring to the U.S. air base at Incirlik military airport in southern Turkey and the NATO radar station in Kurecik in Malatya province, southeastern Turkey.

Trump had made a series of controversial remarks criticizing Turkey's Operation Peace Spring in northeastern Syria.

Turkey on Oct. 9 launched the operation to eliminate terrorists from northeastern Syria in order to secure Turkey's borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria's territorial integrity.

On Oct. 17, Turkey agreed to pause the operation for 120 hours to allow the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the planned safe zone.