US Orders Families of Personnel in Southern Turkey to Leave

The US Departments of State and Defense have ordered the families of all diplomats and military personnel to leave southern Turkey. The reason given is “the increased threat from terrorist groups.” Although the order does not affect the embassy in Ankara or consulate in Istanbul, it does apply to the Adana consulate, U.S. military dependents in Incirlik, and the families of civilians employed by the US government in the cities of Izmir and Mugla. State Department personnel in those areas have been ordered to restrict travel to that which it considers “mission critical.” Points of concern include the military base at Incirlik which is home to aircraft and drones used in the campaign of air offensives against Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq; a Turkish base at Mugla that is frequented by US military personnel; and a NATO base at Izmir which sees many American servicemen and women. According to the Pentagon, the order will affect almost 700 Americans.