Germany to withdraw troops fighting ISIS from Turkey air bases

Germany is set to withdraw troops and aircraft taking part in missions against the ISIS from Turkey in a major diplomatic row between the two North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) allies.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has said that Turkey left his country with no choice, but to begin pulling out its forces after last-ditch talks to resolve the issue broke down. Gabriel flew to Ankara on Monday in a last-ditch attempt to resolve the row, but talks rapidly broke down and Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim refused to see him, calling off a planned meeting.

The operations will now be continued from another location, thought most likely to be Jordan.

Turkey has been blocking German MPs from visiting the troops in apparent retaliation after Germany gave asylum to Turkish officers who fled in the wake of last year's failed coup attempt.

Germany has 260 troops and several Tornado aircraft flying reconnaissance missions for Western air strikes against the ISIS based at Turkey's Incirlik air base.

The Parliamentary access to troops becomes a sensitive issue in Germany, under the country's postwar constitution, in the wake of its military being under the command of the Parliament, not the Government.