Several countries have issued travel warnings concerning Israel-Iran.

France, India, Russia, Poland, and the United Kingdom have warned their citizens against traveling to Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories, and, in some cases, the broader region amid threats of an Iranian attack in response to a strike this month on its consulate in Damascus.

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

The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs on Friday advised its citizens against traveling to Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and the Palestinian territories.

In a statement on the social media platform X, the ministry added that relatives of Iran-based diplomats will return to France. French civil servants are now banned from conducting missions in the countries and territories.

The UK told its citizens to avoid all but essential travel to Israel and Palestine over the “possibility of an attack on Israeli territory from Iran.”

Russia strongly recommended its citizens “refrain from traveling to the region,” emphasizing security risks 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 said.

Poland’s Foreign Ministry also advised against travel 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,” the statement said. Any escalation may lead to significant restrictions in air traffic and the inability to cross land border crossings.”

India’s statement covered Iran and Israel, calling on Indians not to go to the two countries until further notice, given the “prevailing situation in the region.”

The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi said Indian citizens in the two countries should observe “utmost precautions about their safety and restrict their movements to the minimum.”

Germany meanwhile warned its citizens to leave Iran specifically, saying escalating tensions could affect exit routes.

Separately, German flagship airline Lufthansa suspended flights to and from Tehran until Thursday and will not use Iranian airspace.

The real and viable threat, US says

US employees and their families are prohibited from traveling outside Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Beersheba.

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

The Wall Street Journal, quoting a person familiar with the matter, reported on Thursday that Israel was preparing for an attack by Iran as soon as Friday or Saturday.

Since October 7, Israel has bombarded Gaza and sent in ground forces, killing at least 33,600 Palestinians and injuring more than 76,000. Over 1,100 people were killed in Hamas's attacks on southern Israel on October 7.

Also since the start of the war, Israel has increased strikes against Iranian personnel and allies in Syria and Lebanon and traded near daily cross-border fire with Hezbollah.