Travel advice for popular UK holiday destinations after Israel strikes Iran
Tensions in the Middle East have boiled over after Israel's sudden attack on Iran. The UK Foreign Office has advised against all travel to Israel — leaving holidaymakers looking at the map of the Mediterranean with concern over whether it is safe to travel to Cyprus.
Cyprus, an island nation south of Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean, has long been a popular holiday destination for British tourists.
More than 1.3 million visit each year, according to the High Commission of Cyprus in the UK, making up almost one third of total visitors to the island.
Cyprus is also home to a sizeable British expat community. Around 30,000 British citizens live in Cyprus, according to recent estimates.
At roughly 472km from Israel and Palestine, Cyprus shares a regional neighbourhood with countries directly involved in current hostilities.
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Flights from Cyprus' Larnaca International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport in Israel take just 45 minutes.
Following the initial Israeli strikes on Friday morning, Israel and Iran have traded volleys of attacks that have caused civilian casualties and destruction in Tel Aviv and Tehran.
Late on Friday, a post in the Facebook group Weather Enthusiasts of Cyprus saw several people describing streaks of light crossing the night sky over the island.
Some said they believed they had witnessed missile interception from Larnaca, but the blurry, low-resolution video shared in the post was impossible to verify.
That didn't stop people from making the connection. 'My god, what if a stray [missile] comes here?' one person wrote.
But despite the rapidly developing situation, the UK Foreign Office has not issued an official warning suggesting that Cyprus is unsafe for visitors.
Current guidance reads: 'Ongoing hostilities in the region and between Israel and Iran could escalate quickly and pose security risks for the wider region.'
The Foreign Office advises travellers already on the island to monitor local and international media for updates, and follow the instructions of local authorities.
In terms of refund rights, it's important to note that the Foreign Office has not advised against travel to Cyprus.
Because of this, there is no prospect of being able to cancel a trip for a full refund. Travel insurance is unlikely to help, either. Insurers will argue there is no reason not to go.
As Grant Winter, compliance officer at specialist travel insurance provider Goodtogo, tells Metro: 'No airline is obligated to refund you for a flight you choose not to take.'
So, if you choose not to travel, you're likely to lose some – or even all – of your money.
In the early hours of Friday, June 13, Israel launched an unprecedented strike that targeted Iran's nuclear and military sites.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims Tehran was developing a nuclear weapon that posed an imminent threat to Israel.
Iran insists it doesn't want nuclear weapons and was not developing them. Israel is widely acknowledged to have nuclear weapons, though it has never publicly confirmed it. @metrouk
Donald Trump has said on Tuesday he doesn't care that his own Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Iran has not been developing nuclear weapons for over two decades. In March, Gabbard told politicians that US spies agreed that Iran was not producing a nuclear weapon, a claim which Trump now disputes. Trump's claims agree with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said a nuclear-armed Iran as an imminent threat. #iran #uspolitics #tulsigabbard ♬ Curious – Healing And Spirit Health & DJ Hoobidibbie
The attacks, which experts say took years to plan, came despite ongoing negotiations between Iran and Israel's main ally, the US, over the future of Iran's nuclear programme.
Donald Trump has insisted the US had nothing to do with the strikes, but warned of grave consequences if American bases or troops are targeted.
'If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before,' he said in a post on Truth Social.
Addressing Israel's attack on Friday night, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) called for immediate de-escalation.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said: 'This development is deeply concerning.
'I have repeatedly stated that nuclear facilities must never be attacked, regardless of the context or circumstances, as it could harm both people and the environment.
'Such attacks have serious implications for nuclear safety, security and safeguards, as well as regional and international peace and security.'
Meanwhile, G7 leaders have affirmed that 'Israel has a right to defend itself', reiterating support for Benjamin Netanyahu's regime and calling Iran the 'principal source of regional instability'.
Trump has denied that he left a G7 leaders summit in Canada early to work on a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. That suggestion was made by French President, Emmanuel Macron.
While the eyes of the world are on Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Tehran, dozens of Palestinians have been killed as they waited for aid in the southern Gaza Strip, Gaza's civil defence agency said.
Dr Mohammed Saqer, head of nursing at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, said 300 casualties had arrived on Tuesday after a crowd was attacked by tanks while queueing for food.
Overnight into Thursday, a hospital in Beersheeba, in southern Israel, was hit by a wave of Iranian missiles. This comes after Israel bombed the headquarters of Iran's state TV in the middle of a live broadcast.
Anxious travellers are also concerned about the conflict spilling over to Turkey, Jordan, Egypt and UAE hotspots such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
As it stands, the Foreign Office guidance for Turkey – which was last updated on June 4 – advises against all travel to within 10km of the Syrian border, due to fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism.
You can read our full report on travel advice for Turkey here. More Trending
For Jordan, the Foreign Office reiterates the risk of ongoing hostilities in the region between Iran and Israel.
It says travellers should monitor local news channels and follow the instructions of local authorities. If you hear air raid sirens, the guidance says you should take shelter and stay away from windows.
As of 7:30am local time on June 14, Jordanian airspace has reopened but airports and airspace may close at short notice.
Before you travel, the Foreign Office advises you to contact your airline and, if you have one, your travel insurer.
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