The Foreign Office has issued an urgent alert to UK travellers heading to 16 countries amid ‘serious concerns’ over rising regional tensions.
Officials are urging holidaymakers to take ‘extra precautions’ when travelling to parts of the Middle East and surrounding areas, which attract hundreds of thousands of British tourists every year.
The warning follows recent developments involving Iran and now includes several popular holiday destinations such as Turkey, Dubai, Cyprus and Egypt.
It comes after Iran unexpectedly shut its airspace to commercial flights in the early hours of Thursday morning, without explanation, amid escalating tensions with the United States over Tehran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests.
The sudden closure forced international airlines to divert routes north and south around Iranian airspace, causing disruption to global flight paths.
Iranian authorities reopened the airspace shortly after 7am, with a number of domestic flights resuming operations. Iran previously closed its skies during the 12-day conflict with Israel last June.
In an alert issued on Thursday (January 15), the Foreign Office said: ‘There is a heightened risk of regional tension.
‘Escalation could lead to travel disruption and other unanticipated impacts.
‘British nationals should take sensible precautions, considering their own individual circumstances.’
SafeAirspace, an organisation that monitors conflict zones and aviation risks, warned that Thursday’s shutdown could signal further ‘security and miliary activity’.
As reported by The Express, it said: ‘Several airlines have already reduced or suspended services, and most carriers are avoiding Iranian airspace.
‘The situation may signal further security or military activity, including the risk of missile launches or heightened air defense, increasing the risk of misidentification of civil traffic.’
There are growing fears that any potential military action by President Trump against the Iranian regime could lead to wider escalation across the region, increasing the risk of violence and causing significant disruption to international travel.
It comes after the UK Foreign Office warned travellers heading to Dubai of potential ‘terrorist attacks’ that could target British nationals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Foreign Office warns that terrorists may try to carry out attacks in the UAE, including Dubai – which welcomes up to 16 million international visitors every year.
The government department writes: ‘There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets.
‘Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
‘UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack.’
The FCDO further noted that although terrorists may target western interests and British nationals specifically, attacks ‘could also be indiscriminate,’ including in areas frequented by foreign visitors.
Further advice states: ‘Terrorists continue to issue statements threatening to carry out attacks in the Gulf region.’
Tensions between Israel and Iran, as well as regional hostilities in the wider Gulf region, have contributed to the elevated threat level.
