The Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office has issued guidance for British travellers across the Middle East as tensions escalate in the US-Iran conflict. Urgent warnings have been directed at Britons in 13 countries as American strikes continue to intensify.
Ongoing US Strikes and Iranian Retaliation
US Central Command confirmed it had carried out an 11th consecutive night of strikes against Iran, with aircraft hangars and drone storage facilities amongst the targets hit. Iranian state media reported explosions across several regions of the country. Iran has continued to retaliate against US allies in the region, with Bahrain and Kuwait among those targeted.
On Wednesday afternoon, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office released updated travel guidance for nations throughout the Middle East.
FCDO Advice for British Nationals
"The US and Iran announced a memorandum of understanding on 17 June in relation to the conflict in the Middle East, however the situation in the Middle East remains unpredictable," the update reads. The FCDO has urged affected Brits to read this guidance if affected by a crisis abroad, including suggestions on emergency supplies and what to do in a crisis; sign up to FCDO Travel Advice email alerts; monitor local and international media; sign up to local information alerts and follow local authorities; and keep departure plans under review and ensure travel documents are up to date.
Casualties and Conflict Impact
The persistent hostilities and the breakdown of the interim ceasefire agreement have heightened fears of a return to full-scale conflict. US Central Command confirmed that two soldiers lost their lives in Jordan on Friday while repelling Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. It was later revealed that a service member had died in Iraq during the "controlled detonation" of a downed Iranian drone. A total of 17 US troops have been killed since the outbreak of the conflict. US airstrikes have claimed 53 lives and left 592 people wounded since the beginning of July, Iran's health ministry announced today, as reported by state news agency Fars. The casualties included six women and three children, the health ministry confirmed.
Strait of Hormuz and Global Economic Concerns
Tehran has persisted in targeting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, while the US has enforced a reinstated naval blockade of Iranian ports as both nations vie for dominance over the disputed Gulf waterway, which is crucial to global energy supplies. The conflict has caused a dramatic drop in maritime traffic through the channel, sparking fresh concerns over the knock-on effects on economies worldwide, including that of the UK. The strait had remained open prior to the war being launched by the US and Israel on February 28. In retaliation to the offensive, Tehran effectively sealed the waterway to maritime traffic, severely disrupting global oil and gas supplies and pushing up fuel and food prices.
Notwithstanding the initial ceasefire agreement with the US, referred to as the memorandum of understanding, Iran continued to exert its influence over the sea route by compelling ships to seek permission to pass through, raising the prospect of future levies and launching attacks on vessels. Tehran maintains that it holds authority over the channel, a claim that is contested by the US and other nations, who invoke international law regarding freedom of navigation.
