Free Republic

The United States runs its air operations against ISIS in Iraq from Incirlik Air Base in Turkey. The base, used by other NATO forces as well, is not American. It is Turkish, and the U.S. needs government permission to fly from there. Since the 15 July coup attempt in Ankara, U.S. forces at Incirlik are essentially hostages to the Turkish government. The Turkish base commander and his aides have been arrested; U.S. personnel are confined to base; outside power has been cut off; and while the U.S. has been permitted to resume operations over Iraq and Syria, it is working...

Pro-government mob groups attack religious in the aftermath of the attempted coup in Turkey, a democratic watchdog reports. Reportedly, in some cases Muslim citizens reacted against the mobs to protect their fellow citizens. The attacks by Islamist mobs begun on Saturday evening, that is, the evening after the attempted coup had been averted. Attacks were reported at the Catholic Church of Santa Maria in Trabzon; a second attacks was reported on a Protestant Church in Malatya. In Trabzon a mob of 10 people attacked the Catholic Church, throwing stones drawn from the pavement. The mob also carried sledge hummers. Fortunately,...

Turkey's academics found themselves in the government's crossfire once again on Wednesday amid a continued crackdown following a failed military coup last week. The High Board of Education placed a travel ban on academics, temporarily barring them from leaving the country, according to an official speaking on state-run broadcaster TRT. "Universities have always been crucial for military juntas in Turkey and certain individuals are believed to be in contact with cells within the military," the official said, explaining the goal of the ban was to keep any professors involved in Friday's attempted overthrow from leaving the country. This is just...

DEVELOPING: A fire broke out in Turkey's capital city of Ankara Tuesday with initial reports indicating a large explosion, but Twitter reports later suggesting it was a fire in a large residential building.