Middle East conflict: Sirens heard at Turkey’s US-stationed Incirlik base, residents fear missile threat
Key Takeaways
- Sirens sounded early morning at Incirlik airbase, a key NATO facility hosting US troops
- Adana residents 10 kilometres away were woken at 03:25 by five-minute sirens
- Social media footage showed thick plumes of smoke in the sky
Sirens at Incirlik
Turkey's state news agency Anadolu reported that sirens were heard early Friday at Incirlik airbase, a key Nato facility where US troops are stationed.
“Turkey's state news agency Anadolu reported that sirens were heard early Friday at Incirlik airbase, a key Nato facility where US troops are stationed”
Residents of Adana, located about 10 kilometres from the base, were woken at around 3.25 am local time (0025 GMT) as sirens sounded for roughly five minutes.
Footage circulating on social media showed thick plumes of smoke in the sky, with several users sharing images of a glowing object, suggesting it could be a missile headed toward the airbase, according to news agency AP.
Local alerts and US response
A red alert was issued at the facility and sirens from fire engines and security forces were heard across the city.
Washington has closed its consulate in Adana, urging all American citizens to leave southeastern Turkey amid security concerns.
The incident has raised alarms partly because the base is believed to store US B61 nuclear bombs.
Regional escalation context
The incident comes just four days after Nato air defenses shot down a ballistic missile in Turkish airspace fired from Iran, the second such interception in five days.
“Turkey's state news agency Anadolu reported that sirens were heard early Friday at Incirlik airbase, a key Nato facility where US troops are stationed”
Nato had previously intercepted a missile on March 4, prompting Turkey to issue a stern warning to Tehran against "provocative steps."
The recent escalation comes amid the ongoing US-Israeli military operations against Iran, which have sparked strikes across the Middle East.
Nato precautionary measures
In addition to Incirlik, US troops are stationed at Kurecik Airbase in central Turkey, where a Patriot missile defense system was deployed on Tuesday as part of Nato’s precautionary measures.
While Turkey had largely remained spared, the threat to Incirlik has raised fresh alarms across the country.
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