Explorer

US Issues Security Alert For Staff In Israel Amid Iranian Threats. Russia, West Urge Restraint

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed a revenge against the attack on Iranian embassy in Damascus which has put the Middle East on edge.

The United States has said that it has restricted its employees in Israel and their family members from personal travels outside the greater Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Be'er Sheva amid threats by Iran to retaliate against the attack on its embassy in Syria's Damascus. 

The threat by Iran against attack on its embassy has ratcheted up tensions in the Middle East which is already strained by the Gaza war. The April 1 attack had killed a top Iranian general and six other Iranian military officers

In a security alert, the US embassy on Thursday said: "Out of an abundance of caution, U.S. government employees and their family members are restricted from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv (including Herzliya, Netanya, and Even Yehuda), Jerusalem, and Be'er Sheva areas until further notice." 

"U.S. government personnel are authorised to transit between these three areas for personal travel," it added. 

While Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack, the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday Israel "must be punished and it shall be".

ALSO READ: US Extends 'Ironclad' Commitment To Israel Amid Heightened Iranian Threats

Russia, West Urge Constraint 

Amid heightened threats by Iran, Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom have urged the countries in the Middle East to show restraint while Israel said it was preparing to "meet all its security needs". 

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on her Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian to urge "maximum restraint" to avoid further escalation, reported Reuters. 

The German airline Lufthansa, which is one of the only two Western carriers flying to Tehran, extended suspension of its flights while Russia also warned against travel to the Middle East, especially to Israel, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.

"Right now it's very important for everyone to maintain restraint so as not to lead to a complete destabilisation of the situation in the region, which doesn't exactly shine with stability and predictability," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a news briefing.

British foreign minister David Cameroon also told Amirabdollahian that Iran should not draw the Middle East into a wider conflict. 

View More
Advertisement
Advertisement
Sun Feb 23, 4:50 am
connaught place
16.1°
Precipitation: 0 mm    Humidity: 77%   Wind: NW 6 km/h
See Today's Weather
Powered By:
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headlines

3 Israeli Hostages Released By Hamas As 'Guns Go Silent' In Gaza After 15 Months
3 Israeli Hostages Released By Hamas As 'Guns Go Silent' In Gaza After 15 Months
Neeraj Chopra Marriage: Two-Time Olympic Medallist Ties The Knot In Private Ceremony
Neeraj Chopra Marriage: Two-Time Olympic Medallist Ties The Knot In Private Ceremony
Massive Fire Breaks Out At Maha Kumbh Mela After Cylinder Blast, CM Adityanath Apprises PM Modi Of Situation
Massive Fire Breaks Out At Maha Kumbh Mela In Prayagraj, CM Yogi Adityanath Apprises PM Modi
Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani Meet US President-Elect Donald Trump Ahead Of His Inauguration
Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani Meet US President-Elect Donald Trump Ahead Of His Inauguration
Advertisement
ABP Premium

Videos

Saif Ali Khan Attack: Interrogation of Attacker Continues, 3 Key Questions Still UnansweredSaif Ali Khan Attack: Shocking Revelation About Attacker's Identity; Initially Claimed to be HinduSaif Ali Khan Attack: Attacker Reveals Shocking Details During Police InterrogationSaif Ali Khan Attacker Tried to Rob Actor's Home Before Attack: Mumbai Police

Photo Gallery

Embed widget