Foreign Office issues new urgent travel warning for Brits in 18 countries
Urgent travel warnings have been issued for Brits in 18 countries following escalating violence in the Middle East.
US-UK strikes, which took place on Thursday, saw over 60 targets hit across 16 sites in Yemen after Iranian-backed Houthi fighters targeted ships in the Red Sea.
In the wake of a series of coordinated military strikes by the US and British militaries against targets in Yemen in response, the UK Foreign Office has issued urgent travel warnings for 18 countries.
The countries listed include Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Bahrain, and Qatar. The new advice reads: "Military activity is currently underway in response to attempts by Houthi militants to prevent movement of international shipping in the Red Sea. While the area of activity is limited to the Red Sea and Yemen, there is a possibility that Travel Advice for nearby countries could change at short notice. You should continue to monitor Travel Advice and follow any relevant instructions from local authorities."
US-UK strikes were launched on Thursday (AFP via Getty Images)The FCDO has said that there is a "high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets". Brits in those areas have been told to "remain vigilant at all times."
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On Thursday more than 60 targets were hit across 16 sites in Yemen, with Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets used to target key installations such as command-and-control nodes, munitions depots, launching systems, production facilities, and air defence radar systems, the UK Ministry of Defence has said.
The strikes killed at least five people and wounded six, the Houthis said, without elaborating on what was targeted, the Associated Press reports. The attack also threatened to ignite a regional conflict over Israel’s war on Hamas, which the Joe Biden administration and its allies have been trying to calm for weeks.
President Biden said the strikes were meant to demonstrate that the U.S. and its allies “will not tolerate” the militant group’s ceaseless attacks on the Red Sea. And he said they only made the move after attempts at diplomatic negotiations and careful deliberation.
“These strikes are in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea — including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history,” Biden said in a statement.
He noted the attacks endangered U.S. personnel and civilian mariners and jeopardized trade, and he added, “I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary.”
Associated Press journalists in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, heard four explosions early Friday local time. Two residents of Hodieda, Amin Ali Saleh and Hani Ahmed, said they heard five strong explosions hitting the western port area of the city, which lies on the Red Sea and is the largest port city controlled by the Houthis. Eyewitnesses who spoke with the AP also said they saw strikes in Taiz and Dhamar, cities south of Sanaa.
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