U.S. officials ordered families of U.S. service members and govement workers to retu home from southe Turkey on Tuesday due to what they called "continued security conces in the region."
On Monday, Sky News reported Islamic State terrorists were plaing an "imminent" attack on Jewish schools in Turkey, citing intelligence sources.
The Pentagon and State Department said dependents of American staffers at the U.S. consulate in Adana, the nearby Incirlik air base and two other locations must leave. The so-called "ordered departure" notice means the govement will cover relocation costs. Officials said relatives of essential Chief of Mission persoel could stay.
U.S. jets operating out of Incirlik have been conducting strike missions against ISIS since late last year.
In addition, the State Department on Thursday waed all Americans to avoid traveling to the region, especially to areas near the Syrian border. "Stay away from large crowds, including at popular tourist destinations," the department added in a statement.
The move affects 670 family members or other "dependents," Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said. The move would take place "relatively quickly," he added.
"The decision to move our families and civilians was made in consultation with the Govement of Turkey, our State Department, and our Secretary of Defense," Gen. Philip M. Breedlove of U.S. European Command said. "We understand this is disruptive to our military families, but we must keep them safe and ensure the combat effectiveness of our forces to support our strong Ally Turkey in the fight against terrorism."
Defense officials said they did not plan to keep families of U.S. persoel out of Turkey permanently. They also cited the need to preserve the military's "combat effectiveness" there.
The State Department and Pentagon had begun a voluntary drawdown of staff last September after Turkey aounced it would take a greater role in the fight against ISIS. At the time, military officials said they had recommended the voluntary departure from Incirlik because of specific calls by militants for lone wolf attacks against the air base.
The new aouncement comes one day after Secretary of State John Kerry met with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Washington. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to travel to Washington for a global nuclear security summit scheduled to get underway on Thursday.
Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.