Iran attacked Israel a few hours ago. Sirens and explosions are being heard across Israel, including cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and given the new recent turn of events, India has issued travel advisory, warning Indians against travelling to Iran and Israel.
The travel advisory was issued on Friday only in anticipation of rising tensions between the two West Asian countries. The statement released by the ministry of external affairs mentions, “In view of the prevailing situation in the region, all Indians are advised not to travel to Iran or Israel till further notice. All those who are currently residing in Iran or Israel are requested to get in touch with Indian embassies there and register themselves. They are also requested to observe utmost precautions about their safety and restrict their movements to the minimum,”.
This advisory was released soon after Tehran blamed Israel for launching an airstrike in Syria. It said that because of the airstrike, several top Iranian military commanders were dead. The tensions between the two countries have been rising gradually.
India had already shared its concern over the situation. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson, ministry of external affairs, had said that they have noted with concern the attack on Iranian diplomatic premises in Syria on 1 April 2024 and that India is distressed at the rising tensions in West Asia. He further requested all parties to avoid actions and accept principles and norms of International Law.
As of now, some 18,000 Indian nationals live in Israel. A number of them are care-givers and IT professionals. On the other hand, Iran has around 4,000 Indian nationals, including small traders and those from academics. Besides India, France and the US have also issued similar travel advisories for their citizens, amid the ongoing war situation.