The U.S. State Department issued a travel warning for Americans in Turkey on Saturday after an attempted coup occurred in that country on Friday. The travel warning stated, “In light of the July 15 coup attempt and its aftermath, we suggest U.S. citizens reconsider travel to Turkey at this time.”
Extreme caution.
On Friday the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey was warning Americans currently in Turkey that due to a potential for demonstrations and the possibility of clashes between opposing forces, U.S. citizens should use “extreme caution” when leaving their residence and hotels.
Flights into Turkey’s Istanbul's international airport resumed at 12:30 a.m. local time on Saturday. The latest warning suggests Americans travel to Turkey at this time. The current travel alert also continues the State Department’s warning that both foreign and U.S. tourists have been “explicitly targeted by international and indigenous terrorist organizations” and that tourists be vigilant in regard to their personal security.
U.S. military personnel.
On Saturday, local military authorities had denied access either onto or off of the Incirlik Air Base. The U.S. base is home to the 39th Air Base Wing and has approximately 1,500 personnel assigned there. Incirlik base has been used for American-led strike missions against the Islamic State.
Defense Department officials are continuing efforts to account for all American military personnel in Turkey.
Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said in a statement issued Saturday, “All indications at this time are that everyone is safe and secure.”
The aftermath.
Turkish media is reporting 161 dead, although some reports put that number as high as 265, with 1,440 injured.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a live television speech called the attempted coup “an act of treason.” More than 3,000 Turkish military members and 2,700 judges have been detained by Erdogan’s regime.
Turkish President Erdogan.
Also on Saturday, Erdogan called on the United States to return to Turkey moderate Muslin cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is exile in the United States after leaving Turkey in 1999 when he fled Turkey over charges that he was seeking to overturn the then secular government.
"I call on the United States and President Barack Obama ... (to) either arrest Fethullah Gulen or return him to Turkey,” Erdogan said in a statement, adding “If we are strategic partners or model partners, do what is necessary.”
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, currently in Luxembourg told reporters in response to the demand, “We fully anticipate that there will be questions raised about Mr. Gulen … And obviously we would invite the government of Turkey, as we always do, to present us with any legitimate evidence that withstands scrutiny. And the United States will accept that and look at it and make judgments about it appropriately.”
