Stark warnings have been issued to Brits in 13 countries as US attacks continues.
Today, the US Central Command said it had completed an 11th consecutive night of strikes on Iran, with aircraft hangars and drone storage facilities among the targets. Iranian state media reported explosions in several areas of the country. Iran continued to target US allies in the region in response, including Bahrain and Kuwait.
On Wednesday afternoon, the UK Foreign, Development and Commonwealth Office (FCDO) issued updated advice for countries across the Middle East.
“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 you’re affected by a crisis abroad. This includes guidance on “how to prepare for a crisis” with suggestions on what you might include in your emergency supplies and “what to do in a crisis”
- sign up to FCDO Travel Advice email alerts
- monitor local and international media for the latest information
- sign up to local information alerts/resources and follow the instructions of the local authorities
- keep your departure plans under review, and ensure your travel documents are up to date
The ongoing clashes and the collapse of the interim ceasefire deal have fuelled fears of a return to a full-blown conflict. US Central Command said two soldiers were killed in Jordan on Friday while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks.
It was subsequently announced that a service member had died in Iraq during the “controlled detonation” of a downed Iranian drone.
Some 17 US troops have been killed since the start of the war.
US airstrikes have killed 53 people and injured 592 since the start of July, Iran’s ministry of health reported today, according to the state news agency Fars. Among the dead were six women and three children, according to the health ministry.
Tehran has continued to target shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, and the US has enforced a restored naval blockade of Iranian ports as both sides wrestle for control over the contested Gulf waterway, which is vital to global energy supplies.
The fighting has caused maritime traffic using the channel to plummet, leading to renewed concerns over the impact on economies around the world, including the UK.
The strait had been open before the war was launched by the US and Israel on February 28. In response to the offensive, Tehran effectively closed the waterway to maritime traffic, which disrupted global oil and gas supplies and drove up fuel and food prices.
Despite the initial ceasefire deal with the US, known as the memorandum of understanding, Iran continued to exert leverage over the sea route by demanding ships seek permission to transit, raising the threat of future charges and attacking vessels.
Tehran claims it controls the channel, while this is disputed by the US and other countries, which cite international law on freedom of navigation.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
