US airbase Archives - Iran News Daily

US Incirlik airbase may be shut; Erdogan

reporter 1222 — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 08:23:11 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to shut down the major US Incirlik airbase in response to Washington’s recognition of the Armenian “genocide” and the possible introduction of new sanctions against the country.

“If it is necessary for us to take such a step, of course, we have the authority…If this is necessary, together with our delegations, we will close down Incirlik if necessary,” Erdogan said on A Haber TV on Sunday.

The Turkish president also suggested that Turkey can also close down the Kurecik radar base if necessary.

“If they are threatening us with the implementation of these sanctions, of course, we will be retaliating,” he added.

The US-operated Incirlik airbase, situated south of Turkey, is known to be used by Washington to stockpile nuclear weapons. A powerful early-warning radar is also stationed in the southeastern Kurecik base.

The president’s remarks come a few days after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavisoglu also warned that Ankara may close the Incirlik base if the US imposes sanctions on the country.

The developments come after a US Senate committee backed legislation on Wednesday to impose sanctions on Turkey following its October offensive into northern Syrian and its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system.

On Thursday, the US Senate also voted unanimously to officially recognize the alleged mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire a century ago as “genocide”.

The nonbinding legislation had already passed the lower House of Representatives in October.

The Turkish government has historically denied the accusations, arguing that they do not take into account the death of Turks.

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US-Taliban Talks Stopped Attack on US Airbase

reporter 1222 — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 09:56:46 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – US officials announced a “brief pause” in US-Taliban talks after the armed group launched a suicide attack on a US base in Afghanistan, killing two civilians.

Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad on Friday expressed “outrage about attack in Bagram” and said the talks in the Qatari capital Doha would resume after the Taliban “consult their leadership on this essential topic”, Al-Jazeera reported.

“Taliban must show they are willing & [and] able to respond to Afghan desire for peace,” Khalilzad said in a tweet.

Wednesday’s early morning assault, for which the Taliban have claimed responsibility, began when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive-packed vehicle outside a hospital building near Bagram military base in Parwan province, North of the capital Kabul, according to local officials.

Khalilzad had renewed talks with the Taliban earlier this month on steps that could lead to a ceasefire and settlement of the 18-year-long war in Afghanistan, allowing a gradual withdrawal of US troops from the country.

Taliban Spokesman Suhail Shaheen stated Friday’s meeting was “very good and friendly”, adding, “Both sides decided to resume the talks after a few days of a break for consultation.”

The assault on Bagram airbase came despite the resumption of talks between the US and the group days before in Doha.

Peace negotiations began earlier this year but were suspended in September after an American soldier was killed in a suicide attack claimed by the Taliban.

US President Donald Trump, during a surprise Thanksgiving visit to Afghanistan last month, noted that Washington had resumed talks with the Taliban and that the Afghan armed group wanted a ceasefire.

Tens of thousands of Afghan civilians, security officials, and more than 2,400 American service members have been killed since 2001 when a US-led military coalition dislodged Taliban from power.

About 13,000 US forces, along with thousands of other NATO troops, are stationed in Afghanistan, with US officials considering reducing the troop strength as part of any future peace deal.

But the Taliban has set the withdrawal of the US and NATO troops, whom it calls occupying forces, as a condition to strike a deal.

The Taliban calls the Western-backed Kabul government a “puppet” regime and has so far refused to speak to them.

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Attack on US military base killed one

reporter 1222 — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 08:35:19 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Suicide bombers struck an attack on the main US military base in Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing at least one person and injuring scores in a major attack that could scupper plans to revive peace talks between the United States and the Taliban.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on US military base, which hit the Bagram airbase north of Kabul, Reuters reported.

“First, a heavy-duty Mazda vehicle struck the wall of the American base,” said Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman. “Later several mujahideen equipped with light and heavy weapons were able to attack the American occupiers.”

Abdul Shukoor Qudosi, the district governor of Bagram district, said 87 people were injured and one woman was killed, and that a clearance operation was still ongoing.

The majority of casualties are reportedly Afghans.

“A 30-minute clash also happened between the attackers, who obviously wanted to enter the base, and foreign forces,” said Wahida Shahkar, a spokeswoman for the governor of Parwan Province, which includes the Bagram district.

Two attackers detonated vehicles laden with explosives at the southern entrance to the base, while five more opened fire. It was not immediately clear how many of the five gunmen were killed, Shahkar said.

A medical base being built for locals was badly damaged, the coalition of foreign forces in Afghanistan said in a statement. The Taliban denied this.

US President Donald Trump called off talks with the Taliban in September after an attack by the group killed an American soldier.

However, after three months the Taliban and the American negotiators resumed talks in Qatar.

The Taliban control more territory than at any point since being ousted from power by US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

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