New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs issued a travel advisory to Indian citizens on Friday in light of the situation between Iran and Israel. The ministry in a statement said “In view of the prevailing situation in the region, all Indians are advised not to travel to Iran or Israel till further notice. All those who are currently residing in Iran or Israel are requested to get in touch with the Indian Embassies there and register themselves. They are also requested to observe utmost precautions about their safety and restrict their movements to the minimum”.
The attack on Iranian diplomatic installations in Syria on April 1 was “noted with concern,” India said earlier in the day, according to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. According to the spokesperson, India is concerned about the rising tensions in West Asia and how they might lead to more unrest and violence. He went on to say that India impels all parties to refrain from taking any action that violates internationally recognized rules and universally accepted principles.
According to a Wall Street Journal story, Israel is on high alert for a possible direct attack from Iran that might happen in the country’s southern or northern regions over the next 24 to 48 hours. A person briefed by the Iranian leadership, however, stated that plans for an assault are still being discussed and not decided upon. Tensions have increased after Tehran accused Israel of carrying out an airstrike on a diplomatic complex in Damascus, Syria. The strike claimed the lives of several senior Iranian military personnel, including a senior member of the elite Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Previous intelligence from the US suggested that Iran or its proxies were probably going to launch an attack against Israeli assets soon. But now it appears that the strike could happen inside Israel’s boundaries. According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), American intelligence reports indicate that an Iranian counterattack might occur within days, possibly on Israeli territory.
