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U.S. Pentagon tells military families to leave Turkey

Xinhua, March 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Pentagon on Tuesday ordered families of U.S. troops to evacuate southern Turkey amid deteriorating security situation.

The order issued Tuesday would impact primarily U.S. military family members from Incirlik Air Base in Adana, Turkey, which in recent months had become a major hub for launching U.S.-led coalition airstrikes against the Islamic State (IS) the terror group targets in Iraq and Syria.

Family members of U.S. military from facilities in Turkish cities of Ismir and Mugla would also be affected by the order.

"The decision to move our families and civilians was made in consultation with the Government of Turkey, our State Department, and our Secretary of Defense," said a statement by the U.S. European Command.

However, the order did not "signify a permanent decision to end accompanied tours at these facilities," said the statement.

"It is intended to mitigate the risk to DoD (Department of Defense) elements and personnel, including family members, while ensuring the combat effectiveness of U.S. forces and our mission support to operations in Turkey," it said.

The order came after the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning, urging U.S. citizens to avoid southeastern Turkey due to "increased threats from terrorist groups."

Turkey has experienced a string of deadly attacks over the past few months, with the latest one hitting central Istanbul, a Turkish city that straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosporus Strait, on March 19, killing five people. It came only one week after a car laden with explosives hit central Ankara, Turkey's capital, claiming 37 lives. Endit