The UK Foreign Office has issued guidance for Brits travelling to Cyprus – Iran appeared to fire two missiles in the direction of the island, where the UK has military bases
The Foreign Office has issued travel advice for Brits after missiles were fired towards UK military bases.
US-Israeli strikes rained down on Iran yesterday as part of ‘Operation Epic Fury’, killing the country’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei in the process. Tehran wasted no time in launching a retaliation, striking Dubai, Kuwait and Bahrain with missiles sent to target US air bases.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK has “played no role in these strikes” but added British planes “are in the sky”. As the situation continues to evolve, defence secretary John Healey said the UK’s terror threat is “absolutely” under review amid concerns over Iranian retaliation.
Yesterday, two Iranian missiles appeared to be heading for Cyprus – where two UK military bases are located. The bases are said to be home to thousands of British personnel, permanently assigned to the island.
Fortunately, the missiles fell short of striking the island nation, instead landing in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The Foreign Office warns there continues to be a risk in Cyprus, advising Brits to take “sensible precautions” in the country.
Its latest advice states: “There is a heightened risk of regional tension. Escalation could lead to travel disruption and other unanticipated impacts. British nationals should take sensible precautions, considering their own individual circumstances”.
Precautions include reading government guidance on being affected by a crisis abroad, signing up to FCDO travel advice email alerts, monitoring local and international news reports and signing up to other local information alerts and resources.
Defence Secretary John Healey however said the UK government does not believe the missiles were intentionally targeting the bases. He said: “We don’t believe they were targeted at Cyprus, but nevertheless it’s an example of how there is a very real and rising threat from a regime that is lashing out widely across the region.”
“It demonstrates how our bases, our personnel, military and civilians at the moment are at risk with a regime that is increasingly indiscriminate, widespread and uncontrollable in the attacks it’s mounting,” Mr Healey added.
The Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), which continues to amend its travel advice amid the escalating conflict, has also since advised against all travel to one of Cyprus’s neighbouring countries, Turkey.
It advises against all travel to within 10km of the border with Syria due to “fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism”. It also issued advice “against all but essential travel” to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE, adding Brits in the countries as well as Palestine and Israel “should shelter in place” and “register your presence” with the UK foreign office.
