US Air Force chief visits Incirlik Air Base in Turkey

By Muzaffer Cagliyaner

ADANA, Turkey

U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein visited the Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey Friday, according to the base's website.

The general reviewed the counter-Daesh missions from the base, which is at a strategic location in Adana province, nearly 112 kilometers (approximately 70 miles) from the Syrian border.

Addressing the airmen at the base, Goldfein said the mission was "keeping up with the increasing demand for airpower during the ongoing missions in Iraq and Syria."

He said there were many challenges ahead. “I want to be straight up with you,” he said. “It’s going to be difficult when it comes to some of the challenges we face, but we are optimally suited right now to reverse negative trends during the next 10 years.”

He said one of the things the U.S. was better than any of its adversaries was building coalition with its allies and partners, "like right here in Turkey."

He added the future of war fighting would be networking. “We need to take lead to make sure we are able to network together the joint capabilities that senses the globe in air, land, sea, space cyber and undersea and then connects that to an effects grid that produces effects for the joint team and nation.”

Last year, Turkey allowed U.S. aircraft to be stationed at the base to conduct airstrikes against Daesh.