Turkey a 'safe country,' says official after Israeli warnings

Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish official on Tuesday said Turkey is a “safe country” after Israel urged its nationals to leave the country over Iran attack threat. 

“Some countries” have issued travel warnings, Tanju Bilgic, spokesperson for the Turkish foreign ministry said without mentioning Israel. 

“These travel warnings are considered to be related to different international developments and motives,” Bilgic added. 

Israel on Monday urged its citizens in Turkey to leave “as soon as possible” over possible Iranian attacks on Israelis in Istanbul. 

The country is a popular holiday destination for Israelis. 

Turkey “is a safe country and continues to fight against terrorism,” Bilgic said. 

Tensions between Israel and Iran rose following the killing of an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander in late May.

Tehran blames the Jewish state for the killing with several Iranian officials vowing revenge for the death. 

The Israeli National Security Council on May 30 warned its citizens against traveling to Turkey and other countries bordering Iran, labeling them as high-risk areas for Israelis amid fears of Iranian retaliation to the killing of the IRGC officer. 

Though no public statement has been made by Jerusalem regarding the accusations or the murder, an intelligence official told The New York Times that Israel had informed American officials that it was behind the killing.