The US Embassy in Ankara has declared 22 provinces unsafe, imposing travel restrictions on personnel due to heightened security risks.
A critical move has come from the U.S. Embassy in Ankara. The embassy categorized 22 provinces, including major cities, as 'not safe' and imposed a travel ban on its personnel. In the warning note shared by the embassy, not only social events but also military activity in the region was highlighted.
The U.S. Embassy in Ankara announced through a security notice published on its official website that a new travel restriction has been implemented, covering 22 provinces within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Consulate in Adana. It was reported that restrictions have been placed on travel to these regions.
The justification for the decision was cited as the security risks in the region.
While instructing its personnel not to travel to southeastern Turkey, the U.S. government pointed to security risks in the region as the reason for this decision. The statement noted that the negative perception of U.S. foreign policy could trigger anti-Western protests in Turkey, which could pose a security threat. It was indicated that large-scale demonstrations could lead to road blockages and traffic disruptions, and even peaceful actions could quickly escalate into violent incidents.
Provinces declared risky and restricted for personnel entry.
In the warning note shared by the embassy, not only social events but also military activity in the region was emphasized. A warning was issued that military traffic in the Middle East could directly affect all travel plans, including international flights to and from Turkey. The area where the U.S. has instructed 'not to travel' encompasses critical provinces along Turkey's southern and eastern borders. The provinces declared risky and restricted for personnel entry by the embassy are as follows:
Adana, Adıyaman, Batman, Bingöl, Bitlis, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Gaziantep, Hakkari, Hatay, Mersin, Kilis, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, Mardin, Muş, Osmaniye, Siirt, Şanlıurfa, Şırnak, Tunceli, and Van.
Personnel were asked to adhere to the following rules:
Complete avoidance of travel to the Adana Consulate area, including regions adjacent to the borders of Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
Maximum caution in places and areas associated with the U.S. or Israel.
Avoidance of protest and demonstration areas.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
