By Andrew Tilghman, Staff writer 7:03 p.m. EDT September 3, 2015
(Photo: Senior Airman Krystal Ardrey/Air Force)
Hundreds of U.S. military families are urged to leave southern Turkey amid new concerns about safety, a defense official said Thursday.
The voluntary evacuation potentially affects about 900 people and comes after Turkey recently authorized U.S. combat aircraft to fly missions over Iraq and Syria from a key Turkish military installation.
"This decision was made out of an abundance of caution following the commencement of military operations out of Incirlik Air Base," said Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook.
The voluntary departure authorization is limited in scope to the Adana area near Incirlik; it does not apply to family members of military or civilian personnel in other cities, including Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir, Cook said.
"This is not being done because of any specific new threat. We've been at an elevated force protection level in Turkey, at Incirlik, for some time, now," he said.
About 1,800 U.S. troops are based at Incirlik. The military recently moved six F-16 combat jets to the base.
Turkey and the U.S. recently forged a historic agreement that has expanded Turkey's role in the fight against Islamic State militants by joining the coalition's airstrike campaign and granting the U.S. military expanded use of Incirlik for jet and drone missions.
Officials said U.S. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove, chief of the U.S. European Command, recommended the move on voluntary departures of family members, pointing to specific calls by militants for lone-wolf attacks on Incirlik.
Breedlove also asked that officials consider broadening the plan to other parts of Turkey if needed. Officials said Defense Secretary Ash Carter endorsed the move this week and left the door open for a wider plan, saying he would be willing to take another look at the matter in the future.
The decision affects only the families of U.S. troops at Incirlik and diplomats at the consulate in nearby Adana. Families are not required to leave, but those who do would have their departures funded by the U.S. government. Defense Department schools will remain open for those who stay.
Officials said the State Department is issuing a travel warning for the region due to concerns about an increasing security threat.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.