After US Advisory, France Urges Nationals To Avoid Travel To Israel, Iran

As the fear of retaliation from Iran looms large, the US and France have imposed travel restrictions and warned citizens against travelling to parts of the Middle East.

As the fear of retaliation from Iran looms large, the US and France have imposed travel restrictions and warned citizens against travelling to parts of the Middle East.

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After the United States, France on Friday warned its citizens to "imperatively refrain from travel in the coming days to Iran, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories", the foreign minister's entourage told AFP. This comes amid the fear of retaliation from Iran days after Israel's attack on its soil. Iran has threatened reprisals against Israel over a strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria on April 1 that killed seven Revolutionary Guards including two generals, sparking fears of an escalation of violence in the Middle East.

Speaking at a crisis meeting, France's Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne asked that family members of French diplomats in Iran be evacuated, and no French civil servants be sent on missions to the listed countries. Iran blamed Israel for the attack that took place 11 days ago, killing 13 people, and vowed to retaliate.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government was ready to meet any security challenge, warning that Israel would harm any country that caused it harm. "We are prepared to meet all of the security needs of the State of Israel, both defensively and offensively," he said, as quoted by the BBC.

Israel, which has repeatedly attacked Iranian targets since the October war in Gaza, declined to comment on the incident. An Israeli military spokesperson said, "We do not comment on reports in the foreign media."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs said that India has noted the attack on Iranian diplomatic premises in Syria. "We have noted with concern the attack on Iranian diplomatic premises in Syria on 1st April 2024. India is distressed at the escalating tensions in West Asia, and their potential to fuel further violence and instability. We urge all parties to avoid actions that go against commonly accepted principles and norms of International Law," the MEA said.

We have noted with concern the attack on Iranian diplomatic premises in Syria on 1st April 2024. India is distressed at the escalating tensions in West Asia, and their potential to fuel further violence and instability. We urge all parties to avoid actions that go against…

— ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2024