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UK travel advice for Cyprus after Israel strikes Iran
Tensions in the Middle East have boiled over after Israel launched a sudden attack on Iran. Travellers are now 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.
Cyprus is 472km from Israel and Palestine. Flights from Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus to Ben Gurion Airport in Israel take roughly 45 minutes.
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Following the Israeli strikes that killed 78 people, including some of Iran's top military generals and nuclear scientists, Tehran retaliated by firing waves of ballistic missiles at Israel.
Explosions flared in the skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and shook the buildings below. At least 10 people are dead and more than 100 injured, Israeli authorities have said.
In light of the rapidly developing situation, the UK Foreign Office has updated its official guidance on travel to and from Cyprus.
It says: 'Ongoing hostilities in the region and between Israel and Iran could escalate quickly and pose security risks for the wider region.'
However, it's important to note that the Foreign Office has not advised against travel to Cyprus.
The FCDO advises travellers already on the island to monitor local and international media for updates, and follow the instructions of local authorities.
Because the Foreign Office does not warn against travel to Cyprus, 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.'
At Larnaca Airport, the main hub in Cyprus, there are no inbound or outbound cancellations as of 8.30am BST Sunday.
Paphos Airport, in the west of the island, also looks to be operating normally.
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, 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, for its part, insists it doesn't want nuclear weapons. Israel is widely acknowledged to have nuclear weapons, though it has never publicly confirmed it.
Israeli attacks killed key leaders in Iran's governing theocracy. Iran's UN ambassador said 78 people were killed and more than 320 wounded.
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.
Tehran launched a second round of missiles against Israel late on Saturday as the Israeli air force kept up attacks on Iran. More Trending
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.'
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