Fire Near NATO Base in Turkey Possible Anti-American Sabotage?

Massive fire erupts near NATO military base in Turkey

A massive fire has erupted near a NATO military base in western Turkey, with authorities investigating whether they are facing an act of sabotage.

The Iran Project,

25 July, 2016

The fire started on Sunday evening in an area straddling the Sahintepe and Mevkiinde districts in the city of Izmir. It engulfed the wooded area and spread closer to NATO’s military base, the Allied Land Command (LANDCOM), because of strong winds.

Reports say the fire has been contained but efforts continue to extinguish it. Four helicopters and two water-bombers have been involved in battling the flames.

Several populated areas were initially said to be on the path of the fire. A home for the elderly and its neighboring garden have reportedly been affected, but there have been no casualties.

According to Turkey’s T24 News, the fire is suspected to be an act of “sabotage.” The speculation is particularly strengthened amid a Turkish crackdown on people deemed involved in a recent botched coup.

The coup took place on July 15, with a faction of the Turkish military declaring that it had taken over state matters and that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim were no more in charge.

The putsch was, however, crushed in 24 hours, and a large-scale crackdown ensued.

By Press TV

Massive Fire Near NATO Base in Turkey, Possible Anti-American Sabotage

A massive fire erupted near a NATO base in western Turkey. Authorities are investigating the fire as a possible act of anti-American sabotage.

Sputnik,

25 July, 2016

The inferno started on Sunday evening in western Turkey. The fire blew through the grassy wooded area and is now perilously near NATO’s military base pushed forward by strong winds.

​CNNTurk reports that the fire threatens a number of populated areas, and has already impacted a home for the elderly and its adjacent garden, T24 News reports. The channel also reports that anti-American "sabotage" in the wake of the attempted overthrow of the Erdogan government is suspected.

The fire threatens the Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) base at Şirinyer (Buca) in İzmir, Turkey. LANDCOM is tasked with supporting US troops to enhance reaction time and the unit is equipped to respond to international crises.

Although Washington maintains its largest overseas nuclear arsenal in Turkey, consisting of up to 90 tactical nuclear weapons, the US atomic weapons stockpile is stored at Incirlik air base and no such weapons of mass destruction are reportedly stored at the Izmir base.

​The fire is not fully subdued despite hours of effort along with the use of firefighting helicopters and airplanes conducting water drops according to local news outlets.

​Sunday's fire comes in the wake of the failed attempt to overthrow the Erdogan government last week that the regime has blamed on US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. The country's Laber Minister created a stir when he said on live television during an interview with HaberTurk that "the US is behind the coup." This hyperbolic statement, condemned by the US State Department, was followed by a threat from Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yidlirim that Ankara would go to war with "any country" that supports Fethullah Gulen — a direct reference to the United States.

The US has repeatedly informed Turkey that they are unable to extradite the alleged mastermind of the coup, Fethullah Gulen, under US law without sufficient evidence. A recent poll shows that only 17% of Turks welcome the United States in the country and with Ankara shifting towards a more nationalistic posture attacks against US installations may become more likely in the wake of the failed coup.