Countries together with France, India, Russia, Poland and the United Kingdom have warned their residents in opposition to travelling to Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories and, in some circumstances, the broader area amid threats of an Iranian assault in response to a strike this month on its consulate in Damascus.

Iran has threatened reprisals in opposition to Israel over the strike within the Syrian capital on April 1, which killed seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members, together with two generals, resulting in fears of an escalation of violence within the Middle East.

The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs on Friday suggested its residents in opposition to travelling to Iran, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories.

In a press release on the social media platform X, the ministry added that kinfolk of Iran-based diplomats will return to France and French civil servants are actually banned from conducting any missions within the international locations and territories in query.

The UK instructed its residents to keep away from all however important journey to Israel and Palestine over the “possibility of an attack on Israeli territory from Iran”.

In an replace, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office warned in opposition to “all travel” to northern Israel, the Gaza Strip, areas close to Gaza and the occupied West Bank – excluding occupied East Jerusalem and Route 1 between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Russia strongly beneficial its residents “refrain from travelling to the region”, emphasising safety dangers in Israel, Lebanon and Palestine.

“The situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone as well as in the area of the ‘Blue Line’ between Lebanon and Israel remains unstable,” its Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.

Poland’s Foreign Ministry additionally suggested in opposition to journey to Israel, Palestine and Lebanon.

“It cannot be ruled out that there will be a sudden escalation of military operations, which would cause significant difficulties in leaving these three countries,” it stated in a press release. “Any escalation may lead to significant restrictions in air traffic and the inability to cross land border crossings.”

India’s assertion lined Iran and Israel, calling on Indians to not go to the 2 international locations till additional discover in view of the “prevailing situation in the region”.

The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi stated Indian residents who’re within the two international locations ought to observe “utmost precautions about their safety and restrict their movements to the minimum”.

Germany in the meantime warned its residents to go away Iran particularly, saying escalating tensions might have an effect on exit routes.

“In the current tensions, especially between Israel and Iran, there is a risk of a sudden escalation,” the Foreign Office stated. “German citizens are at concrete risk of being arbitrarily arrested and interrogated and being given long prison sentences. Dual citizens with Iranian and German nationality are especially at risk,” it added.

Separately, German flagship airline Lufthansa prolonged its suspension of flights to and from Tehran till Thursday and won’t use Iranian airspace throughout that point.

Real and viable menace, US says

The United States has restricted its staff in Israel and their relations from private journey outdoors the larger Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Beersheba areas.

An imminent assault by Iran on Israel is a “real” and “viable” menace, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby instructed journalists on Friday, including that Washington would make certain the Israelis “have what they need and that they’re able to defend themselves”.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, President Joe Biden stated: “We are devoted to the defence of Israel. We will support Israel. We will help defend Israel, and Iran will not succeed.”

The high US commander for the Middle East, General Erik Kurilla, can also be in Israel for talks with its navy officers on safety threats. His journey was moved up from a beforehand scheduled date “due to recent developments”, Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder stated on Thursday.

After Kurilla mentioned the tensions with Iran with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Friday, Gallant stated the US and Israel have been “shoulder to shoulder” in dealing with doable threats.

“We are prepared to defend ourselves on the ground and in the air, in close cooperation with our partners, and we will know how to respond,” the defence chief added.

The Wall Street Journal, quoting an individual conversant in the matter, reported on Thursday that Israel was getting ready for an assault by Iran as quickly as Friday or Saturday.

Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut, reporting from East Jerusalem, stated the Israeli military announced that it was getting ready on all fronts offensively and defensively.

“A couple of weeks ago, the Israelis increased their alertness level, calling up reservists and bolstering air defence systems,” she stated, including that Israeli officers stated they have been ready for something.

Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip since October 7 and despatched in floor forces, killing at the least 33,600 Palestinians and injuring greater than 76,000. Hamas’s October 7 assaults on southern Israel killed greater than 1,100 individuals there.

Israel has additionally stepped up strikes in opposition to Iranian personnel and allies in Syria and Lebanon and has traded close to each day cross-border fireplace with the Lebanese group Hezbollah for the reason that begin of the battle.