US may bar army families from going with staff to Turkey
The United States moves to permanently prohibit families of American military and civilian staff from accompanying them in Turkey over security concerns.
US defense sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters on Wednesday that the US administration in March had ordered the families of military and diplomatic personnel to leave Incirlik airbase in southern Turkey. However, the move was not permanent then.
The decision affected some 670 dependents of US military personnel in Turkey, while 100 others in Istanbul and Ankara were allowed to stay, the report added.
But now officials seek to make all US military and civilian personnel for Incirlik and other sites in Turkey go on "unaccompanied" tours.
"The change reflects the continued deterioration of security conditions throughout Turkey," said one of the sources.
The move, which needs the Pentagon approval, would mean that US deployments to Turkey would be reduced to one year from two, and troops could not bring their families.
The United States has about 2,200 service members and civilian employees in Turkey, about 1,500 of whom are posted to the Incirlik airbase.
The US State Department on Tuesday warned American citizens about increased threats from militant groups throughout Turkey and urged them to avoid traveling to the southeastern part of the country.
The latest news comes a day after bomb attacks at Istanbul's main airport, which killed at least 43 people and wounded some 240 others.
Three terrorists blew themselves up late on Tuesday night as security forces were trying to block their progress into the Ataturk airport.
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