Massive anti-US rally staged at NATO Incirlik air base in Turkey (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

July 28, 2016 at 13:06

A crowd has been protesting near the Incirlik military base in Adana, Turkey. The facility houses US and NATO forces. The demonstrators are calling for the closure of the base, where arrests and searches were made in connection with the failed coup.

Regional television has been broadcasting the rally.

Reports on social media suggest up to 1,000 people have gathered to support the demonstration.

#Turkey Protesters reportedly marching towards Incirlik airbase for anti-US rally - @thevocaleurope pic.twitter.com/5COC3GSN0f
— Derek Bisaccio (@DerekBisaccio) July 28, 2016

Protesters have been shouting anti-American and anti-Israel slogans, according to an RT stringer.

İncirlik üssü yakınlarında toplanan gruplar üssün kapatılması talebiyle ABD ve darbe girişimini protesto ediyor
pic.twitter.com/7KmixdwlEY
— PKK Analiz (@PKKAnaliz) July 28, 2016

Police have been deployed to block the entrance to the base, according to reports.

?Big crowd,large convoy heading to #US #Incirlik Base in #Adana .Security forces blocked the road #Turkey
? pic.twitter.com/vdYKCjz2y6
— Mete Sohtaoğlu (@metesohtaoglu) July 28, 2016

American officials have informed US citizens that the consulate in the city will be closed at the time of the protest.

US citizens in Turkey: Demonstration expected from Merkez Park to Incirlik Air Force Base 6pm July 28. Consulate in Adana will close at 4pm.
— Travel - State Dept (@TravelGov) July 28, 2016

The base has made the headlines recently in connection with the failed coup in Turkey, and searches have been conducted at the facility by Turkish prosecutors and police. The air base commander, General Bekir Ercan Van, has been detained at Incirlik by the Turkish authorities along with over a dozen lower ranking officers, all accused of complicity in the attempted coup.

Incirlik is used by NATO and stores US tactical nuclear weapons. Washington has been using the base in its campaign against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) in neighboring Syria and Iraq.