The United States has advised its citizens to leave southeastern Turkey as tensions escalate during the ongoing conflict with Iran. The US Embassy in Ankara confirmed that the State Department has ordered the departure of non-essential staff and their families from the US Consulate in Adana, located near a key NATO base. The embassy cited security risks as the reason for the directive and issued a travel advisory urging Americans in the region to depart immediately.

According to AFP, the advisory follows recent claims by Ankara that Iran attempted to launch missiles targeting Turkish territory. The missiles were reportedly intercepted and destroyed by NATO’s air defense system before reaching their targets. The US decision reflects heightened caution over potential spillover effects from the Iran conflict and the proximity of NATO facilities in southern Turkey.

The move underscores growing security concerns in the region and signals Washington’s efforts to minimize risks to its personnel and citizens amid rising regional instability.