File image of an airport departure board (Image: Getty)
Travellers are being urged to reconsider their travel plans this summer, with Britons warned to remain vigilant when visiting one sun-soaked holiday hotspot.
Bahrain is now considered as a travel destination with a higher than usual risk following an advisory issued by both the UK Foreign Office and the US Embassy in Manama, Bahrain’s capital. Both the US and UK have issued online warnings that are nearly word-for-word copies of each other, urging tourists to remain vigilant while in the Bahraini capital as there is “information to suggest that Iran may seek to target unspecified locations in central Manama”.
As per the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO): “The US and Iran have announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in relation to the conflict in the Middle East. The situation remains unpredictable.
“Iran has carried out further attacks on Bahrain since the MOU was agreed, and could do so again at short notice. On 20 July, the US Embassy Manama issued an advisory that Iran may seek to target unspecified locations in central Manama. British nationals should remain vigilant and follow local authorities’ instructions.”
Before the 8 April ceasefire between the US and Iran, the Islamic Republic had made a habit of targeting Gulf destinations with some kind of tie to the US and/or Israel. This included US or Israeli-linked organisations, businesses, facilities and institutions.
Iran has also previously targeted civilian infrastructure across the region. Ports, hotels, roads, bridges, energy facilities, oil production sites, water systems, and airports have all been targeted by Iranian artillery, and all remain likely targets while the rogue Middle Eastern nation continues its war with Iran and Israel in the wake of the February 28 attacks.
February 28 marked the outbreak of the ongoing Iran war, when the United States and Israel launched a joint coordinated attack on Iran and a number of its nuclear, military, and infrastructure sites. The 12-hour operation, which involved nearly 900 strikes in total, killed the nation’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and triggered retaliatory attacks by Iran across the Middle East.
Middle Eastern destinations are being advised against (FILE IMAGE: Burj Al Arab in Dubai) (Image: Getty)
The US and the UK are not the only Western nations to up their travel advice for any citizens travelling in the Middle East.
Australians have been urged to reconsider whether they need to travel to Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East, with the federal government Down Under describing the situation as “volatile”.
In the last 24 hours, all three nations have seen their advice level upgraded to a level three warning, which urges Aussies to reconsider their need for travel. As per Australia’s Smartraveller website, tourists are warned to “stay as short a time as possible” if in transit.
Meanwhile, six nations continue to be on the highest warning level for Australians, which carry a clear ‘do not travel’ warning for Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen.
“We’ve reviewed our travel advice for Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia and have raised the overall travel advice,” a statement from Smartraveller reads.
“We now advise ‘reconsider your need to travel’ overall, due to the unpredictable security situation. Avoid non-essential travel to these locations. If you need to transit, stay as short a time as possible and avoid unnecessary activities.
“Airspace may close at short notice. Flights can change or stop suddenly. Borders can close.”