France, India, Russia, Poland, and the United Kingdom have warned their citizens against travelling to Israel, Palestine, and the surrounding areas amid fears of an Iranian attack in response to a strike on its consulate in Damascus earlier this month. Iran has threatened reprisals against Israel over the strike, which killed seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including two generals. The French Ministry has advised its citizens against travelling to Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and the Palestinian territories. The UK has warned against all but essential travel to Israel and Palestine over the “possibility of an attack on Israeli territory from Iran”. Russia has strongly recommended its citizens “refrain from travelling to the region”, emphasizing security risks in Israel, Lebanon, and Palestine. Poland’s Foreign Ministry has also advised against travelling to Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon. Meanwhile, India has called on Indians not to go to Iran and Israel until further notice.
The German Foreign Office has warned its citizens to leave Iran, stating that escalating tensions could affect exit routes. German citizens are at risk of being arbitrarily arrested and interrogated and given long prison sentences. Dual citizens with Iranian and German nationality are particularly at risk. Additionally, the United States has restricted its employees in Israel and their family members from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Beersheba areas. The US National Security Council has warned that an imminent attack by Iran on Israel is a “real” and “viable” threat. President Joe Biden has assured the defence of Israel and that Iran will not succeed, while General Erik Kurilla, the top US commander for the Middle East, is in Israel for talks with military officials on security threats.
Israel has been preparing for an attack by Iran as soon as Friday or Saturday, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Israeli army has announced that it was preparing for any possibilities and had increased its alertness level, calling up reservists and bolstering air defence systems. Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip since October 7 and sent in ground forces, killing at least 33,600 Palestinians and injuring more than 76,000. It has also stepped up strikes against Iranian personnel and allies in Syria and Lebanon and has traded near-daily cross-border fire with the Lebanese group Hezbollah since the start of the war.
Subscribe to the YouTube channel of republicpolicy.com
