“This decision was made out of abundance of caution following commencing of military operations out of Interlink air base”, he maintained.
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Officials said the move affects about 900 family members of personnel stationed on Incirlik Air Base, as well as relatives of USA consulate workers in the nearby city of Adana.
The State Department said the following day that the USA authorities had asked the Turkish government to refrain from launching independent airstrikes against Islamic State positions prior to Turkey’s full integration into the US-led coalition against the terrorist group. Family members were notified Thursday morning eastern time at a town-hall meeting…
Relocation expenses will be paid by the US government for those who wish to return to the USA and “family members who wish to remain in Turkey are free to do so at this time”, Cook said. The agreement included allowing United States warplanes to use Incirlik for anti-ISIS missions in Syria. Turkey has also launched strikes out of İncirlik.
Security precautions at the base have been tightened, potentially making life less comfortable for families of USA military personnel living there.
The option to relocate applies to the air base at İncirlik and the USA consulate in Adana, the State Department and Department of Defense said.
In 2011, almost 8,000 military dependents signed up for voluntary departures from Japan during the tsunami and nuclear power plant crisis.
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“We’re just being abundantly safe here”, said Cook, adding that families will be able to leave on commercial flights and will be reimbursed for the costs.
