Activists protesting at İncirlik perceived US involvement in coup attempt

A group of activists from the Anatolian Youth Association (AGD) who accuse the United States of masterminding the July 15 attempted coup, are staging a protest outside the İncirlik air base in the southern Turkish city of Adana on Thursday evening.

The AGD called upon the public to join a convoy traveling to "İncirlik, base of the coup."

İncirlik, a key NATO base from which the United States carries out the anti-DAESH fight, was affected by the recent coup attempt by a Gülenist junta. A senior Turkish commander at the base was arrested for joining the coup attempt, and local authorities cut off power to the base after it was discovered coup plotters used a tanker aircraft based there to refuel fighter jets involved in the coup attempt.

Several surveys following the coup indicate that a fair share of the Turkish public believe the U.S. was behind the coup or at least played a facilitating role for the coup plotters. According to a survey by pollster Andy-Ar, 64.4 percent of respondents believe Fethullah Gülen was behind the coup attempt, while 3.8 percent directly blamed the United States. The survey showed 72.6 percent of respondents thought other states supported the attempted military junta.

The public's sentiment is largely attributed to the presence in the U.S. of Gülen, the prime suspect behind the coup plot, who has a green card and has lived since 1999. Turkey seeks Gülen's extradition on charges of terrorism.

Elements in Turkish media have claimed that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and a senior U.S. commander had a hand in the coup plot, and many Turks resent a perceived stance by American media regarding the coup that amounted to justification and blame of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, which has fueled public outrage against the U.S.

Although the U.S is an ally of Turkey, Turks remain suspicious of American involvement in past coups. The 1980 coup propelled this anti-U.S. sentiment as the United States was viewed as a staunch supporter of the coup generals.