U.S. commander says coalition would be benefit if Turkey opens air bases for anti-ISIL operations

The U.S.-led coalition fighting against Islamic jihadists in Iraq and Syria would benefit from Turkey’s permission to use its airbases, a U.S. commander has said.

“When and if the Turks decide to be more forthcoming in helping the coalition, it will clearly be value-added,” Gen. Lloyd Austin, commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East and South Asia, said when asked to what extent the coalition’s efforts had been interrupted by Turkey’s reluctance to allow the usage of its İncirlik base. 

“The more access to basing and overflight rights, the better,” he further said at an event organized by the Atlantic Council think tank on Nov. 6.

Despite not publicly opposing the idea of allowing U.S. forces to carry out bombing raids from the İncirlik Air Base in southern Turkey, Ankara has been insisting that no decision has been made over the issue, as negotiations are ongoing over the demands of both parties.

The Turkish government has been linking the opening of Turkish bases to the anti-ISIL coalition with the establishment of security zones and no-fly zones in Syria.