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Pentagon says no U.S. military support for Turkey coup

People with Turkish flags gather at the 15 July martyrs square in Ankara, Turkey, on Friday, July 29, 2016. The government crackdown in the coup's aftermath has strained Turkey's ties with key allies including the United States. (AP Photo/Ali Unal)
People with Turkish flags gather at the 15 July martyrs square in Ankara, Turkey, on Friday, July 29, 2016. The government crackdown in the coup's aftermath has strained Turkey's ties with key allies including the United States. (AP Photo/Ali Unal) People with Turkish flags gather at the 15 July martyrs square in Ankara, Turkey, on Friday, July 29, 2016. The government crackdown in the coup's aftermath has strained Turkey's ties with key allies including the United States. (AP Photo/Ali Unal)

By Associated Press 2 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Pentagon on Friday flatly rejected allegations by Turkey’s president that the U.S. military was somehow involved in or in any way supported the recent failed coup in that country.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at the U.S. Friday and criticized a senior military commander who had expressed concerns that the violent July 15 coup could have longer-term impact on U.S. relations with the Turkish military. Erdogan said the U.S. was taking sides with coup plotters.

Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said any suggestion that the U.S. supported the coup was absurd and wrong.

He said Defense Secretary Ash Carter received assurances from his Turkish counterpart that the fight against Islamic State militants won’t be affected. The U.S. launches airstrikes, surveillance aircraft and other missions out of Turkey’s Incirlik air base.

Cook said that while U.S. and Turkish officials “talk every day,” he could not say whether or not any senior U.S. defense or military officials had reached out to Erdogan Friday to specifically discuss or refute the latest accusations.