MILITARY

US orders diplomatic, military families out of south Turkey

Associated Press
Published | Updated

FIL - In this March 9, 2016, file photo, Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to reporters at the State Department in Washington. The State Department and Pentagon ordered the families of U.S. diplomats and military personnel Tuesday to leave posts in southern Turkey due to “increased threats from terrorist groups” in the country. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this July 28, 2015 file photo, a U.S. Navy plane maneuvers on the runway of the Incirlik Air Base, in Adana, in the outskirts of the city of Adana, southeastern Turkey. The State Department and Pentagon ordered the families of U.S. diplomats and military personnel Tuesday, March 29, 2016, to leave posts in southern Turkey due to "increased threats from terrorist groups" in the country. The two agencies said dependents of American staffers at the U.S. consulate in Adana, the Incirlik air base and two other locations must leave. The so-called "ordered departure" notice means the relocation costs will be covered by the government. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this July 28, 2015 file photo, a U.S. Navy plane maneuvers on the runway of the Incirlik Air Base, in Adana, in the outskirts of the city of Adana, southeastern Turkey. The State Department and Pentagon ordered the families of U.S. diplomats and military personnel Tuesday, March 29, 2016, to leave posts in southern Turkey due to "increased threats from terrorist groups" in the country. The two agencies said dependents of American staffers at the U.S. consulate in Adana, the Incirlik air base and two other locations must leave. The so-called "ordered departure" notice means the relocation costs will be covered by the government. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel, File) (The Associated Press)

The State Department and Pentagon are ordering the families of U.S. diplomats and military personnel to leave posts in southern Turkey due to security fears.

The two agencies said dependents of American staffers at the U.S. consulate in Adana and the Incirlik air base and two other locations must leave. The so-called "ordered departure" notice means the relocation costs will be covered by the government.

The move comes amid heightened security concerns throughout Turkey and was accompanied by an updated travel warning advising U.S. citizens of an increased threat of terrorist attacks.

It also comes as Turkey's president is set to arrive in Washington to attend President Barack Obama's nuclear security summit.