Global travel warning: Smartraveller warns Australian travellers about risk, not just in the Middle East
The Australian Government has warned Aussies that the 'unpredictable' situation in the Middle East may put them at risk or leave them stranded and unable to get home, regardless of where they are globally.
On Saturday night (local time), US President Donald Trump dropped a barrage of tactical bombs on uranium enrichment nuclear facilities across Iran, the first direct involvement from the superpower in the Israel-Iran war.
In the wake of the strike, world leaders are calling for diplomacy as fears of retaliation grow.
On Monday, Smartraveller, which is part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, warned Australians about the 'global impacts of conflict in the Middle East'.
'The situation in the Middle East is unpredictable. It could get worse with little warning. Security risks may increase. There may be travel disruptions within the region and globally,' Smartraveller said.
The advice followed a US State Department 'worldwide travel warning' issued on Sunday night.
The new information from Smartraveller warned Aussies that they could be caught up in conflict 'even if your destination is not in the Middle East'.
'Closure of airspace around transit hubs in the Middle East may impact flights globally. It may cause flight delays and cancellations,' the warning said.
'If you travel to or through the Middle East, you may be unable to leave if conflict escalates.
'Local security situations could get worse with little warning. Flights can change or stop at short notice. Roads and borders can close.'
Australians are being warned about safety and security globally, not just in the Middle East.
'Conflict in the Middle East could impact safety and security elsewhere. There is a risk of reprisal attacks and further escalation,' Smartraveller said.
'Protests and civil unrest may happen globally. The risk of terrorist attacks can increase, particularly around areas where foreign tourists gather, embassies and other foreign interests.'
The new alert included information on the risks of armed conflict, terrorism, kidnapping, protests and civil unrest.
United States issues 'worldwide travel warning'
On Sunday night, the United States Government warned its citizens of increased risk globally.
'The conflict between Israel and Iran has resulted in disruptions to travel and periodic closure of airspace across the Middle East,' the US State Department said in a statement.
'There is the potential for demonstrations against US citizens and interests abroad.
'The Department of State advises U.S. citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution.'
What should Australian travellers do amid Middle East conflict?
Before Aussies leave the country, they should contact their airline to ensure the flight is still planned.
Smartraveller also encourages Aussies to check their travel insurance policy before travel.
If Australians leave the country or are overseas, while travelling, they are encouraged to stay alert to possible threats, monitor local and international news for new threats, take official warnings seriously and follow the instructions of local authorities.
Are there disruptions to flights because of the Israel-Iran war?
Yes. There are currently large impacts on airline services due to the Middle East conflict.
Flight routes were changed when war between Israel and Iran escalated and missiles were launched.
Many airlines have temporarily suspended flight on some routes. Airlines including Etihad, Emirates, Flydubai, Wizz Air, Air Arabia, Watar Airways, Oman Air, Kuwait Airways, Gulf Air, Syrian Airlines, EgyptAir, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Air Canada, Air France, KLM, Ryan Air, Swiss Air Lines, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Aeroflot have current suspensions on services.
Virgin Australia and Qantas are understood to be monitoring the situation closely, both for any direct flights and those carried out with partner airlines.
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ABC News
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Questions over the legitimacy of the US-Israeli attack on Iran fail to grasp the threat — and the opportunity - ABC Religion & Ethics
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The sheer number of highly critical resolutions directed at Israel following 7 October 2023 by the UN and international law institutions like the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court has reinforced the Israeli belief that international law is often being used as a political tool against the Jewish state's right to self-determination. Many Israelis argue that the application of international law at the UN and other bodies embodies clear a double-standard grounded in this politicisation: obsessively scrutinising Israeli actions while ignoring the crimes of Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran — a regime notorious for repressing any opposition, women, LGBTQ+ people and minorities. Israel is often accused of human rights violations, particularly in Gaza. Yet it remains a democracy with robust judicial oversight — which were threatened by the Netanyahu government's proposed judicial overhaul, but remains healthy. Such safeguards are entirely absent in the Islamic Republic, where the judiciary is simply a tool of the clerical leadership. The operational window opens The legal debate over Israel's actions, while important, has been largely irrelevant to the pace of events on the ground. It was not a decisive factor in Israel's decision-making regarding Iran. Unlike superpowers, Israel cannot rely on prolonged operational flexibility. The rules-based order that prevailed after the Second World War deliberately complicates the ability to launch rapid pre-emptive actions — especially for a country like Israel, whose right to self-defence is often denied by many nations and some UN officials. Since surprise is essential to pre-emptive success, Israel had to act decisively. This is the essence of the 'Begin Doctrine', which underpinned Israeli strikes on nuclear reactors in Iraq (1981) and Syria (2007), and applies to Iran today. The operational window matured earlier this year, leading to the decision to move before it closed again. Politically, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he decided to move forward against Iran as soon as Donald Trump was re-elected in November 2024. Over the intervening period, there seems to have been clear coordination between Israel and the United States. Then, a damning report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Iran's nuclear enrichment programme in late-May led the agency's Board of Governors to declare on 12 June that Iran is in 'non-compliance' with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) — a major diplomatic milestone. Once the sixty-day ultimatum for Iran to conclude negotiations announced by President Trump expired, Israel launched its assault — an act that was widely seen as punishment for Iran's intransigence in its negotiations with the Trump administration. Maxar Satellite Imagery provides a close-up view of several large craters puncturing the ridge directly above the Fordo underground complex. (Satellite image © 2025 Maxar Technologies / Getty Images) Military readiness and a dramatic reduction of Iran's deterrence vis-à-vis Israel also played an important role. By late 2024, Israel had reduced Hamas to a guerilla force and gained control over much of the Gaza Strip. A surprise campaign against Hezbollah in September — which began with exploding pagers and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon — led to a ceasefire that left Iran's most powerful proxy severely weakened and politically isolated. This left Hezbollah with no legitimacy to drag Lebanon, which is still recovering from the war, into another round of clashes with Israel, and a government in Beirut working to disarm it. Ensuring airspace superiority en route to the Iranian sites was another factor. Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December, Israel destroyed Syrian anti-aircraft installations. The new ruler in Damascus, Ahmed al-Sharaa, expelled Iranian forces and was later embraced by President Trump. Syria, now fragmented and ruled by a weak central authority, no longer poses a threat to Israel. In Iraq, under pressure from the United States, Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias are losing influence as Baghdad moves to disarm them. In October 2024, Israeli jets reportedly used Iraqi airspace to strike deep into Iran, demonstrating their long-range operational reach. More importantly, they struck Iran's most advanced air-defence systems, leaving it 'essentially naked' against an airborne attack. The 'day after' and political considerations For now, the United States and other key international players support Israel. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reportedly said Israel is 'doing the dirty work for all of us', and Middle Eastern states — including the influential Saudi Arabia — quietly support Israel's efforts to eliminate a shared threat. However, questions are emerging within Israel. With no resolution in Gaza after twenty months of fighting, many now ask whether Netanyahu is again entering a war without a clear exit strategy. Some hope the Iran campaign may finally bring closure — securing a deal with Hamas, releasing hostages and ending the suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians. Iranians are a proud nation, and the Islamic Republic is still standing. Following a massive and humiliating assault, if the regime survives, the ayatollahs will most likely be more determined than ever to acquire nuclear weapons as a guarantee of survival. To secure a real victory, Israel will need US leadership in brokering a ceasefire that includes robust and penetrating monitoring of Iran. As for regime change in Tehran, while revolutions are inherently unpredictable, such ambitions probably remain unrealistic at this stage. Without a strong domestic opposition, foreign bombing campaigns alone most likely cannot topple the regime. US President Donald Trump, accompanied by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on 7 April 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images) Politically, Netanyahu has begun to see a steady rise in the polls following the apparent success of the Iran operation. Yet his critics argue that, as with Gaza, his push to attack Iran was influenced by political motivations — maintaining his coalition with hardline right-wing parties, which are now claiming credit for the campaign, the same way they 'boasted' after blocking attempts to reach a ceasefire with Hamas. Above all, Netanyahu is seeking to reshape the narrative about his legacy. 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He is also a research associate at the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) and a research fellow at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism at Reichman University in Herzliya.
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eSafety boss reveals scale of ‘harmful' videos on YouTube, urges ban for children
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