The US State Department has ordered the families of its consulate staff in Istanbul to leave the country. Now, Turks fear for the worst. In an Oct. 29 order, the US government cited the increasing possibility of terror attacks against US citizens in Istanbul. The State Department has frequently issued short-term travel alerts to its citizens in Turkey in the past two years, but those typically involved visits to southeast Turkey and near the Syrian border. The new order applies specifically to diplomatic families in Istanbul. The order noted that the consulate will remain open and fully functional. It did not apply to other posts, although the US Consulate in Adana province issued a warning Nov. 4 that terror organizations in the city might target US citizens and warned them to be vigilant.
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