Is it safe to travel to Turkey? Foreign Office issues advice
Israel and Iran have launched missiles at each other over the last couple of weeks, with the US also launching missiles at nuclear sites in Iran.
Turkey is a popular summer holiday destination with British travellers, and shares some of its eastern border with Iran.
Therefore, travellers with trips booked may be questioning whether to holiday there.
Iran has launched missiles at US airbases in Qatar and Iraq in response to strikes on its nuclear sites.
Explosions have been heard in Doha after a "credible threat" of an attack.https://t.co/eN5plCq7hM pic.twitter.com/RU9QfWBTJV
The Foreign Office considers Turkey's main tourist areas generally safe to travel to, but regional travel guidance has been issued to reflect ongoing hostilities.
However, it advises against all travel to within 10km of Turkey's border with Syria due to 'fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism'.
Its website adds: 'Due to the ongoing conflict in Syria, roads in Hatay Province leading towards the border may be closed at short notice.'
Outside of this area, travellers are warned to remain aware of their surroundings as 'terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Turkey'.
The Foreign Office says that regional events in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories have 'led to heightened tensions' across Turkey.
Tourists should avoid 'all demonstrations' connected to the conflict in major cities, particularly Israeli diplomatic missions in Ankara and Istanbul.
Within the last hour, Iran and Israel were due to begin a "total ceasefire". US President Donald Trump broke the news of the peace deal overnight and warned that both countries had "much to lose if they stray from the road of righteousness and truth".
But there was confusion… pic.twitter.com/B0ZlCbfFDe
To go to the Hakkari province in the south east, travellers require permission from the local Governor's Office to 'visit areas near the border with Iraq and Iran'.
As reported by BBC News, US military aircraft targeted three nuclear facilities in Iran over the weekend.
It followed action earlier in June, when Israel launched a surprise attack on dozens of Iranian nuclear and military targets.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran was close to being able to produce a bomb, but Iran has always insisted its nuclear programme is peaceful.
How much damage was done to Iran's nuclear facilities in the US strikes?
In this bonus episode of The World podcast, @RichardEngel and @SkyYaldaHakim discuss that and what might happen next.
Hear their full chat here 👉https://t.co/2OJFtgT37h
Iran responded by launching strikes against Israel, and an air war between the two has continued since.
BBC News adds: "[President Donald] Trump has long sought to bring Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions, and the two countries were engaged in talks when the US launched the strike.
Recommended reading:
British Airways flights to Doha and Dubai cancelled after US strikes Iran
Urgent Foreign Office warning for UK tourists travelling to Dubai and Doha
"Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons but neither confirms nor denies this in public."
Yesterday (Monday, June 23), Iran launched missiles at the largest US military base in the Middle East, Al-Udeid, which is in Qatar.
Late last night, Trump declared a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, but his claims were thrown into doubt after Iran's foreign minister claimed "no agreement" had been reached.
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