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WASHINGTON, July 16 (Xinhua) -- The Pentagon said on Saturday Turkish officials had closed the airspace around a Turkish air base from which the U.S.-led coalition launched airstrikes against the Islamic State (IS).
"Turkish officials have stopped all flights into and out of Incirlik Air Base in the southwestern part of the nation. U.S. and coalition aircraft fly missions against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant from the base," said Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook in a statement.
"U.S. officials are working with the Turks to resume air operations there as soon as possible," said Cook, adding that all U.S. military personnel and civilians there were "safe and secure."
Turkey is a NATO ally for the United States and part of the U.S.-led coalition to fight IS.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama on Saturday reiterated the U.S. "unwavering support" for the democratically-elected civilian government of Turkey in the aftermath of a coup attempt.
Obama made the remarks at a White House meeting with his national security and foreign policy advisers, where he received an update on the situation in Turkey, where reportedly at least 194 people were killed and 1,100 others wounded in the military coup attempt on Friday.
"The President's advisers apprised him of the most recent developments on the ground, and the President reiterated the United States' unwavering support for the democratically-elected, civilian Government of Turkey," the White House said in a statement.
Obama instructed his team to continue to work with their Turkish counterparts "to maintain the safety and well-being of diplomatic missions and personnel, U.S. servicemembers, and their dependents," the statement said.
