“The Embassy will announce its reopening, once it resumes services,” the embassy said in a statement.

The embassy advised U.S. citizens in Turkey to avoid large crowds and the embassy building and to be aware of their own security when visiting popular tourist sites and crowded places.

The embassy was the target in 2013 of a suicide bombing claimed by a far-left group that killed a Turkish security guard.

Relations between NATO allies Washington and Ankara are strained over a number of issues, notably the U.S. arming of Syrian Kurdish forces.

Ankara on January 20 launched an operation against the YPG in its border stronghold of Afrin in western Syria.

Reporter’s code: 50101