Special to WorldTribune.com
The U.S. State Department has in the past week warned U.S. citizens against travel to Turkey and Tunisia amid rising terrorist threats.
On March 29, the State Department warned of “increased threats from terrorist groups throughout Turkey and to avoid travel to southeastern Turkey” near the Syrian border.
Family members of U.S. government personnel at the U.S. Consulate in Adana and family members of U.S. government civilians in Izmir and Mugla provinces were ordered evacuated.
“Foreign and U.S. tourists have been explicitly targeted by international and indigenous terrorist organizations,” the State Department said.
Americans in Turkey should avoid political gatherings and rallies and “stay away from large crowds, including at popular tourist destinations.”
Meanwhile, on April 1, the State Department issued a travel warning for Tunisia.
U.S. citizens should “avoid travel to southeastern Tunisia along the Libyan border as well as the mountainous areas in the country’s west due to the threat of terrorism,” the department said.
A March 7 attack by Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) jihadists in the southeastern border town of Ben Guerdane resulted in the deaths of 12 Tunisian security officials and civilians.
“Isolated groups of militants continue to operate in the mountains of Western Tunisia, including Jebel Chaambi, Sammama, and Selloum,” the State Department said.