In the latest advisory from Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russian citizens have been strongly advised to avoid traveling to the Middle East, with particular emphasis on Israel, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories. This cautionary stance comes amid persistent tensions in the region, a continuation of the Ministry's initial guidance issued last October. The directive followed a series of events, including an attack by Hamas on Israel, which heightened concerns over regional stability.
The Ministry's statement highlighted the ongoing instability in the zones of conflict between Palestine and Israel, as well as in the vicinity of the 'Blue Line' demarcation between Lebanon and Israel. Russians are urged to eschew travel to these areas unless absolutely necessary, underscoring the volatile situation.
Interestingly, the advisory contrasts with Russia's assessment of the security situation in Jordan. Despite recent upheavals in response to Jordan's peace agreement with Israel, Russia perceives the Hashemite Kingdom as maintaining a stable security landscape. This variance in advisories may offer insights into Russia's geopolitical alignments and perceptions in the Middle East.
Middle East crisis live: Russia warns against travel to Middle East amid fears of Iranian attack on Israel https://t.co/6QHqleOXcL
— Guardian news (@guardiannews) April 11, 2024
Tensions have escalated following reports by Bloomberg, citing US and Israeli security sources, of potential imminent missile or drone strikes by Iran or its proxies targeting military and governmental entities in Israel. These developments have spurred international calls for restraint.
Amidst this fraught backdrop, Iran has issued fresh threats against Israel in retaliation for an airstrike earlier in the month that resulted in the deaths of seven Iranian Revolutionary Guards, including two generals, in Damascus, Syria. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized the importance of restraint to avoid further destabilization in a region already bereft of stability and predictability.
🇷🇺🇮🇱🇮🇷RUSSIA TO ISRAEL & IRAN: RESTRAIN YOURSELVES
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 11, 2024
Kremlin:
"Right now, it is very important for everyone to maintain restraint in order not to lead to a complete destabilization of the situation in the region, which does not exactly shine with stability and predictability.… pic.twitter.com/DnwoinnxI0
The airstrike targeted the Iranian embassy's consular annex in Damascus, claiming the lives of seven IRGC members, among them Senior General Mohammad Reza Zahedi. Zahedi, a prominent commander in the Quds Force with roles in Syria and Lebanon, represents the highest-ranking Iranian military casualty since the 2020 US missile strike that killed Qasem Soleimani.
In a related development, Iran announced the suspension of all air traffic over Tehran for military drills, starting from midnight Thursday. This move, reported by the Mehr News Agency and attributed to a senior Iranian defense official, adds to the region's tensions.
The Russian ambassador to Israel met with the mother and wife of the kidnapped Andrei Kozlov, who has been held captive by Hamas in Gaza for 186 days.
— Shiri_Sabra (@sabra_the) April 9, 2024
He assured them that Russia is acting against relevant factors in order to lead to his release pic.twitter.com/E1V582Shpn
The United States, according to intelligence shared with Bloomberg, anticipates Iran may launch missile strikes against key military and government sites in what it refers to as the occupied territory. This expectation of aggression from Iran or its proxies underscores the precarious security situation, with potential repercussions for regional and global stability.
