A delegation of German lawmakers visited Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey yesterday, the Anadolu Agency said, defusing a months-long row that had prevented them meeting troops serving in the coalition against Daesh.
In June, Turkey barred the politicians from the base, where about 200 German troops are stationed, in response to a resolution in the German parliament declaring the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman forces a genocide.
In July, Turkey briefly grounded coalition airplanes at Incirlik after an abortive military coup and amid concerns that rogue troops might try to flee the country from the base.
The US Air Force has around 5,000 airmen at Incirlik, which serves as a critical hub in the US-led coalition trying to defeat Daesh over the borders in Syria and Iraq.
In September, Chancellor Angela Merkel persuaded President Tayyip Erdogan to allow the parliamentarians to visit. Their trip is taking place with little publicity, with Anadolu saying it was closed to the press.
The German Air Force has kept Tornado surveillance jets and a refuelling plane at Incirlik to contribute to the fight against Daesh. The German soldiers are at Incirlik to help defend Turkish troops against possible attacks from Syria.
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