Massive Fire near NATO Base in Turkey, Possible Anti-American Sabotage

The inferno started on Sunday evening in western Turkey. The fire blew through the grassy wooded area and was perilously near NATO’s military base pushed forward by strong winds.

Reports said that the fire threatens a number of populated areas, and has already impacted a home for the elderly and its adjacent garden. Anti-American "sabotage" in the wake of the attempted overthrow of the Erdogan government is suspected, Sputnik News reported.

The fire threatens the Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) base at Şirinyer (Buca) in İzmir, Turkey. LANDCOM is tasked with supporting US troops to enhance reaction time and the unit is equipped to respond to international crises.

Although Washington maintains its largest overseas nuclear arsenal in Turkey, consisting of up to 90 tactical nuclear weapons, the US atomic weapons stockpile is stored at Incirlik air base and no such weapons of mass destruction are reportedly stored at the Izmir base.

The fire is not fully subdued despite hours of effort along with the use of firefighting helicopters and airplanes conducting water drops.

Sunday's fire comes in the wake of the failed attempt to overthrow the Erdogan government last week that Ankara has blamed on US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. The country's Labor Minister created a stir when he said on live television during an interview with HaberTurk that "the US is behind the coup."

The US has repeatedly informed Turkey that they are unable to extradite the alleged mastermind of the coup, Fethullah Gulen, under US law without sufficient evidence. A recent poll shows that only 17% of Turks welcome the United States in the country and with Ankara shifting towards a more nationalistic posture attacks against US installations may become more likely in the wake of the failed coup.