Germany urges its citizens to leave Iran over security concerns

BERLIN

Germany on Friday urged its citizens to leave Iran amid escalating tensions in the Middle East over reports of potential attack on Israel.

The Foreign Ministry issued a travel warning for Iran, after Western media reported that Iran could retaliate against Israel within next 24 to 48 hours.

“The current tensions in the region, particularly between Israel and Iran, pose the risk of a sudden escalation. The security situation can deteriorate quickly and without warning,” the ministry said.

“It cannot be ruled out that an escalation could also affect air, land and sea transportation routes, with corresponding potential restrictions on travel to and from Iran,” it said.

The announcement came amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, following a missile strike on the Iranian Consulate in the Syrian capital, Damascus, earlier this month, which killed several top generals and members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz threatened Wednesday that his country’s military would strike Iran directly if Tehran launched an attack from its territory against Israel.

Several media outlets reported on Friday that the Israeli army was preparing for a direct attack from Iran, in the north or south of the country, within the next 24 to 48 hours.

The escalation came as Israel continues to wage a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack in early October by Hamas, which killed around 1,200 people.

More than 33,600 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza and over 76,000 injured amid mass destruction and displacement.