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Istanbul – US missions in Turkey announced the temporary suspension of visa services after receiving “credible information” on the possibility of “terrorist” attacks directed against them.
In a statement posted on its website, the US embassy in Ankara confirmed the suspension of consular services at its embassy and consulates in Istanbul, Adana (south) and the Izmir coast overlooking the Aegean Sea.
He explained that “the US mission in Turkey received reliable reports of terrorist attacks or possible kidnappings against US citizens and other nationalities in Istanbul, including against the US consulate, as well as elsewhere in Turkey.”
The mission advised US citizens “to be very careful where Americans or foreigners may meet, including large buildings that house offices or shopping centers.”
He revealed that all services and visas for US citizens will be suspended at the facilities of the US mission in Turkey.
People with scheduled appointments will be notified by email with instructions on how to reschedule their appointments.
The mission recommended a set of measures that should be followed, including being vigilant and alert, avoiding crowds, not attracting attention, being attentive to the surroundings, as well as being vigilant at sites frequented by foreigners and monitoring local media for updates. .
In 2013, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the embassy in Ankara and killed a Turkish security guard. A far-left group claimed responsibility for the attack.
This comes amid great tension in the political and economic relations between Ankara and Washington due to their disagreement over many files in the international arena.
Turkey’s adoption of the Russian S-400 missile defense system is the latest rift between Washington and Ankara, which strongly opposes the deal.
The Syrian question has also occupied a space of accumulation of disputes between the two countries, as Turkey feels great anger at the growing support of the United States for the Protection Units of the Kurdish People in Syria, which Washington considers its ally in the fight. against ISIS.
The US support gave Syrian Kurds the opportunity to establish their own autonomous region near the Turkish border, at a time when Turkey claims the YPG has close ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which it has been fighting against. a war since 1984, and is classified as a terrorist group by Turkey and the United States. Both of them.
Turkey’s activities in the eastern Mediterranean and its expansionist tendencies are of concern to American and allied circles.
And the United States had previously warned Turkey not to continue with its oil and gas exploration plans off the Greek islands in the eastern Mediterranean region, in light of Ankara’s intransigence and its efforts to go ahead with its plans to despite the wave of international criticism.
