According to the Turkish Government Gazette and as reported by the neighboring media, Turkey will create a new air base in the Dalaman area, in the Mugla province, across from Rhodes and Kos.

The new Turkish air base will be the headquarters of the 16th Main Aircraft Command Base, from which F-16 fighter jets as well as unmanned aerial vehicles will be deployed, while Brigadier General Yusu Karuk has been appointed as Commander.

In fact, Turkish publications typically state that the decision on the new air base is Ankara’s response to the ever-increasing provocativeness of Greek and US forces in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean.

Finally, it is emphasized that the presence of the Turkish F-16s opposite the Greek islands will act as a deterrent and will offer new possibilities in the execution of aeronautical and not only operations and missions in the wider region, since they will have the Dodecanese as their main area of ​​responsibility.

With information from: TRT Haber

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