Russia tells citizens: refrain from travel to the Middle East

Smoke rises on the Lebanese side of the border between Israel and Lebanon after an Israeli strike, as seen from northern Israel, April 10, 2024. Ayal Margolin/File Photo

MOSCOW - Russia's foreign ministry told citizens on Thursday that they should refrain from travelling to the Middle East, especially to Israel, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.

"The tense situation in the Middle East region persists," said the foreign ministry, which first issued such travel advice in October when it urged Russians not to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories after Hamas attacked Israel.

"The situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone, as well as in the area of the 'Blue Line' between Lebanon and Israel, remains unstable."

"We strongly recommend that Russian citizens refrain from traveling to the region, especially to Israel, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, except in cases of extreme necessity," it said.

Russia said the security situation in Jordan remained stable.

The United States and its allies believe major missile or drone strikes by Iran or its proxies against military and government targets in Israel are imminent, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing U.S. and Israeli security sources.

(Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Christina Fincher)