The UK Foreign, Development and Commonwealth Office (FCDO) has issued updated travel advice for 13 countries in the Middle East as the US-Iran war intensifies. The update came on Wednesday afternoon, urging British travellers to take precautions.
US Strikes Continue
The US Central Command said it had completed an 11th consecutive night of strikes on Iran, targeting aircraft hangars and drone storage facilities. Iranian state media reported explosions in several areas. Iran responded by targeting US allies in the region, including Bahrain and Kuwait.
Since the war began, 17 US troops have been killed. Two soldiers died in Jordan on Friday while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks, according to US Central Command. Another service member died in Iraq during the controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone.
Civilian Casualties and Maritime Disruption
Iran's ministry of health reported that US airstrikes have killed 53 people and injured 592 since the start of July, including six women and three children. Tehran has continued to target shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, and the US has enforced a naval blockade of Iranian ports. The fighting has caused maritime traffic to plummet, raising concerns about global economic impacts.
The strait had been open before the war launched by the US and Israel on February 28. Tehran effectively closed the waterway, disrupting global oil and gas supplies and driving up fuel and food prices. Despite a memorandum of understanding with the US, Iran continues to demand ships seek permission to transit, attacking vessels that do not comply.
FCDO Advice for Brits
The FCDO update stated: "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." Affected Brits are urged to read guidance on how to prepare for a crisis, sign up to FCDO Travel Advice email alerts, monitor local and international media, sign up to local information alerts, follow local authorities' instructions, and keep departure plans and travel documents up to date.
