1,000s Turkish forces surround NATO’s Incirlik air base

@Brasco_Aad Pro Erdogan/AKParti supporters (civilians) are trying to get near the air base, but are being held back by Military Police

— Brasco_Aad (@Brasco_Aad) July 30, 2016

#Tatvan derken#incirlik üssünde olağanüstü hareketlilik.#PÖH giriş çıkışları tutmuş tetikte bekliyor. pic.twitter.com/TSsqHW9Ydk

— Levent Tekin (@Levent_Tekin) July 30, 2016

Turkey’s minister for EU Affairs downplayed the situation in a Twitter post, saying a “security inspection” was carried out.

ADANA'dayım. İncirlik veya Adana'daki başka yerle ilgili bir sıkıntı yok. Genel güvenlik değerlendirmesi de yaptık. Herhangi bir sorun yok

— Ömer Çelik (@omerrcelik) July 30, 2016

“We did the general security check. There is nothing wrong,” he tweeted from Adana.

Some supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have reportedly flocked to the cordon surrounding the base. The scene, however, did not appear as massive and tense as the recent Adana protests demanding for the base to be shut down. 

More and more Pro AK Parti / Erdogan supporters (Turkish #NDF) arrive at the gates of #Incirlik Air Base. pic.twitter.com/2lfsl0bjh4

— Brasco_Aad (@Brasco_Aad) July 30, 2016

On Thursday, a huge rally marched towards the NATO base, as people with loudspeakers chanted anti-American and anti-Israel slogans. The demonstrators claim that the US had a hand in the failed July 15 coup attempt in which 270 people died. Tens of thousands people, including members of the military, police, judiciary, media, and civil service, have been arrested in connection with the coup, which Turkish officials say was organized by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, Erdogan’s former ally, who is now his most hated rival.

READ MORE: Anti-US rally staged at NATO Incirlik air base in Turkey (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Looks like airspace around #Incirlik is closed pic.twitter.com/ZwaQPpHFNr

— Serbo-Canadian (@SerboCanada) July 31, 2016

In the wake of the coup attempt, several military officials at the Incirlik Air Base, including its commander, General Bekir Ercan Van, were arrested on treason charges by Turkish authorities, which claimed that one of the rogue F-16 planes taking part in the rebellion to overthrow Erdogan’s government had been refueled there.

The general had even reportedly attempted to seek asylum in the US, but his plea was apparently rejected.

Incirlic Air Base is used by both the Turkish and US militaries and is vital to the US-led anti-terror bombing campaign in Syria and Iraq. It also serves as one of six NATO storage sites for US tactical nuclear weapons in Europe. The exact number of nuclear bombs kept at the base is unknown, although, according to various estimates, it may store up to 90 warheads.

The US-led coalition’s airstrikes had to be halted for several days when power was cut at the base. US military personnel stationed there had to switch to an internal power supply.

READ MORE: Local authorities block access to air base in Turkey that houses US nukes

The “inspection” at the base comes as the Turkish government announced a sweeping military reform on Saturday. In an interview with TV broadcaster A-Haber, Erdogan unveiled plans to scrap all military academies and replace them with a new national defense university.

Protesters chant 'Allahu Akbar' & 'Go Home USA' outside #Incirlik https://t.co/2LmFufV7wr

— LucidHurricane™✘ (@LucidHurricane_) July 31, 2016

The commanders of the different branches of the Turkish armed forces are to be put under the defense minister’s chain of command. In addition, Erdogan wants the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and military chief of staff to report directly to him, which would require a new constitutional amendment to be passed by the parliament.