Israel Urges Citizens to Leave Turkey Immediately

Following a report about ISIS's plan to attack "Jewish children," Israel on Monday urged its citizens not to travel to Turkey and to leave the country immediately if they are currently there. AFP reported that the Israeli government announced on Monday, April 9, that it had raised the travel warning level for its citizens regarding Turkey. The Israeli government specified that this decision was made following a suicide bombing on March 19 in Istanbul, for which ISIS claimed responsibility. In that explosion, three Israelis and one Iranian were killed, and dozens more were injured. Additionally, Sky News reported, citing security sources, that ISIS had an "advanced plan" to attack "Jewish children" in Turkey. According to this report, the "immediate" threat was discovered after six individuals were arrested in the Turkish city of Gaziantep last week. Security sources who spoke with Sky News stated that ISIS intended to kill Jewish children and teenagers by attacking kindergartens, schools, and recreational centers in Turkey. Several Turkish cities have recently been targeted by multiple terrorist attacks, resulting in the deaths of over 80 people. Armed Kurdish groups and ISIS have claimed responsibility for these explosions. In this context, the arrest of several suspects in Belgium's anti-terrorism operations has reportedly "prevented several terrorist attacks" in Turkey in recent weeks.