Turkish military denies U.S. army officials visited air base near Syria

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish military denied media reports suggesting that a group of U.S. army officials paid a visit to Command of Diyarbakır Second Air Base, which is the closest military base of NATO to Syria, according to Today’s Zaman.

Turkish media outlets reported that 20 U.S. military officials went to Diyarbakır Air Base from an Ankara military base with Turkish military plane. The objective of the visit was discussion of possible military cooperation with regards to worsening Syrian conflict, which raises concerns over regional conflagration, media reports said.

U.S. military delegation reportedly inspected the base for two days to see the current readiness of the air base for a possible future military action.

The reports said when U.S. military delegation arrived in the base, a Turkish aircraft flied reconnaissance mission over the porous Syrian border, which has become a scene of exchange of artillery fire between Turkish and Syrian military, stoking fears of further escalation.

However, U.S. military officials did not take part in the flight.

Turkish military denied media reports in strong terms for the third time since the eruption of first reports over the U.S. military presence in Turkey three weeks ago to deal with the escalating Syrian conflict.

A statement released on the website of Turkish General Staff dismissed claims, saying that there were no U.S. military officials in Diyarbakır Air Base and there was no inspection at all.