DOD disavows involvement in attempted Turkish military coup

The Pentagon publicly disavowed involvement in this month's attempted coup in Turkey during a press conference Friday.

Defense Department spokesman Peter Cook contended that any claims that senior defense officials were involved in the July 15 attempt are "absurd."

Cook's comments came shortly after U.S. Central Command chief Gen. Joseph Votel issued a statement saying that any reporting that he supported the coup attempt "is unfortunate and completely inaccurate."

Turkish government officials have speculated that the United States supported the failed attempt.

"The United States has repeatedly condemned the failed coup in Turkey, and we continue to convey our absolute support for Turkey's democratically elected civilian government and democratic institutions," Cook said, noting that Turkey is "a close NATO ally and a vital member" of the coalition working to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

U.S. officials and their Turkish counterparts are in "regular communication," Cook added, noting that "any reports that suggest Gen. Votel expressed support in any fashion for the actions of Turkish military officers who undertook illegal military action against the Turkish government are factually inaccurate."

"Likewise," Cook continued, "as Secretary [Ash] Carter and Chairman [of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph] Dunford have made clear previously, any suggestion anyone in the department supported the coup in any way would be absurd."

President Obama has also previously denied U.S. involvement in the coup.

Cook noted that Carter has received assurances that operations against ISIL will not be impacted, and that the Pentagon does not expect the coup attempt to have an impact on the relationship between the two countries. However, he added that in some instances a Turkish counterpart that a defense official previously worked with might no longer be in the same position.