The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has issued critical updates to its travel guidance for the Middle East following the commencement of joint military action by the United States and Israel against Iran. The advisory, published on Saturday 28 February 2026, explicitly warns British nationals against all travel to Israel and Palestine due to the heightened threat of regional escalation.
Immediate Safety Precautions for British Nationals
In a stark statement on its official website, the FCDO declared: "Due to the threat posed by escalation in the region, we recommend against all travel to Israel and Palestine. On 28 February 2026, the US and Israel commenced joint military action in Iran, Israeli airspace has now closed." British citizens currently in affected areas are strongly urged to adopt sensible precautions, including closely following instructions from local authorities, avoiding proximity to military installations, and ensuring all travel documentation is current and accessible.
Expanded Warnings Across the Gulf Region
The travel advice has been further extended to encompass several Gulf states. For UK nationals in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait, the Foreign Office has issued an urgent directive to "immediately shelter in place." The official guidance mandates: "Remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel and follow instructions from the local authorities." This represents a significant escalation in precautionary measures for these previously stable destinations.
Government Stance and Diplomatic Context
The UK Government has emphasised that its paramount concern is "the safety of UK nationals" across the Middle East, while simultaneously affirming it is "ready to protect our interests." A Government spokesperson clarified the UK's position, stating: "Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and that is why we have continually supported efforts to reach a negotiated solution. Our immediate priority is the safety of UK nationals in the region and we will provide them with consular assistance, available 24/7."
It is understood that the United Kingdom was not a direct participant in the US and Israeli military strikes on Iran. In response to the developing crisis, Sir Keir Starmer is scheduled to chair a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee on Saturday morning to coordinate the national response.
The spokesperson further elaborated on defensive postures, noting: "As part of our longstanding commitments to the security of our allies in the Middle East, we have a range of defensive capabilities in the region, which we have recently bolstered. We stand ready to protect our interests. We do not want to see further escalation into a wider regional conflict."
Widespread Airline Disruption and Cancellations
The military action has precipitated immediate and severe disruption to international air travel across the Middle East. Flight-tracking services, including Flightradar24, confirmed that airspace over Iran and Iraq was effectively empty on Saturday morning, with multiple global carriers implementing cancellations and rerouting.
Major Airline Responses
Air France-KLM: Air France cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv in Israel and Beirut in Lebanon for Saturday. KLM accelerated its previously announced suspension of the Amsterdam-Tel Aviv service, cancelling the single flight scheduled for Saturday instead of implementing the halt from Sunday as initially planned.
Lufthansa: The German airline suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Oman until at least 7 March. Services to and from Dubai were cancelled for Saturday and Sunday. Furthermore, Lufthansa will avoid Israeli, Lebanese, Jordanian, Iraqi, and Iranian airspace until 7 March.
Virgin Atlantic: The carrier announced it will temporarily avoid Iraqi airspace, leading to pre-planned rerouting of certain flights. It also cancelled its VS400 service from London Heathrow to Dubai on Saturday.
Wizz Air: The budget airline halted all flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman with immediate effect, with the suspension currently set to last until 7 March. The airline stated operational decisions would be under continuous review as the situation evolves.
Other Carriers: Japan Airlines cancelled a Saturday flight from Tokyo Haneda to Doha, along with its return flight on 1 March. IndiGo stated it was actively monitoring regional updates, while other airlines are expected to announce further schedule adjustments.
The confluence of updated government travel warnings and extensive airline cancellations underscores the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the Middle East, placing the safety of international travellers and regional stability at the forefront of global concerns.
