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German MPs denied visit to Turkey's Incirlik airbase

Turkish authorities denied a visit of German lawmakers to Incirlik Air Base where German troops are deployed as part of the anti-Daesh coalition

Daily Sabah TÜRKIYE
Published May 15,2017
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German lawmakers were denied a visit to the Incirlik Air Base where German troops are deployed as part of the anti-Daesh coalition, diplomatic sources confirmed to Daily Sabah.

Speaking to Daily Sabah on the condition of anonymity, diplomatic sources confirmed that German lawmakers were not allowed to pay a visit to the air base to meet with German troops.

The sources said that the German lawmakers' visit was "considered inappropriate for the time being."

German media outlets claim that the reason for the incident is related to Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) NATO military officers in Germany, who have been granted asylum recently.

The German federal government is now considering removing its soldiers from the base, the sources familiar with the matter told dpa.

Last year a delegation of lawmakers comprising members of a parliamentary defense committee were initially denied access to Incirlik, but were later allowed to carry out the trip.

As of last year, Germany had about 250 soldiers stationed at Incirlik as part of the anti-Daesh military coalition, mostly used for combat-support missions, such as reconnaissance and jet refueling.