Incirlik ops. pivotal in Daesh fight: US coalition

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - Incirlik air base has been "absolutely invaluable" in the U.S.-led campaign against Daesh, the coalition said Wednesday.

"The entire world has been made safer by the operations that have been conducted there," spokesman Air Force Col. John Dorrian told reporters from Baghdad. "It's a very important base to the coalition and to the ongoing fight against Daesh."

His comments come after criticism from Turkey's Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, who said that the U.S. has failed to provide air support to Turkey-backed opposition forces taking part in Operation Euphrates Shield against Daesh.

The minister said the Turkish nation was asking the U.S. the question: "If you are not supporting us in the most significant operation, then why are you based at the Incirlik Airbase [in southern Adana province]?"

Nevertheless, the U.S. remains “an important ally”, Cavusoglu said.

“We have cooperation in almost every field," he said, adding: "However, the truth is [that we are having] a 'confidence crisis' with the U.S."

The Turkish Army is supporting Free Syrian Army fighters seeking to liberate al-Bab, a strategic city for Daesh.

Dorrian said that the coalition has "ongoing operations" with Turkey and its allies "to increase the amount of support in the participation that we'll be providing to Turkey as they move forward in al-Bab”.

Separately, weather prevented the U.S.-led coalition from carrying out air strikes to support Turkey's al-Bab operation last week, Dorrian said.

The U.S. said on Tuesday the coalition had carried out aerial maneuvers in support of Turkish troops, but did not carry out any strikes.

At the time, the Pentagon did not explain why there was a lack of dropped ordinance.

"The cardinal rule of close air support is to do no harm," Dorrian said. "So we conducted the operation that we could conduct at that time."

"There are limitations that are driven by weather," he added.