Rushed evacuation of US nukes from Incirlik,TURKEY
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
In an earthshaking Middle East development, the United States has begun secretly evacuating the tactical nuclear weapons it had stockpiled at the southern Turkish air base of Incirlik and is transporting them to US bases in Romania. The Obama administration has thus taken another step towards folding its tents in the Middle East. In contrast, Moscow is rapidly expanding its air force footprint in the region with a new base in Iran following its facility in Syria. Advanced bombers and fighters are stepping up operations in both countries, while Russian warships carrying Kalibr cruise missiles gather in the Mediterranean and Caspian Seas. DEBKAfile's military and intelligence sources report that Washington decided to remove the nuclear arsenal to safety after talks between American and Turkish talks on releasing 1,500 US airmen serving at the base from the siege clamped down a month ago broke down. The airmen were running the US air campaign against ISIS in in Syria just 112km away.