Diplomatic advisories issued for select Middle Eastern destinations due to heightened tensions between Israel and Iran.
Jerusalem's Old City, home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and the Dome of the Rock shrine, is currently under lockdown following Israel's ban on public gatherings due to an Israeli military strike on Iran on June 13.
The recent Israel-Iran tensions have escalated significantly, marking the fourth day of hostilities as of June 16, 2025. This escalation began with Israel's surprise strike on Friday, targeting the heart of Iran's nuclear program, resulting in the deaths of several nuclear scientists and high-ranking military leaders, according to Israeli officials.
Since the initial strike, both Iran and Israel have launched missile and drone attacks against each other's territories, with sirens repeatedly sounding in major Israeli cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, signaling continued threats to civilian populations. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are conducting strikes against Iranian surface-to-surface missile sites and have expanded their campaign to include critical Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear research facilities in Tehran.
At least 13 people in Israel have been killed over two nights of Iranian missile and drone attacks, as reported by the Israeli prime minister. U.S. forces have intercepted Iranian missiles and drones aimed at Israel, providing crucial defense support, although the U.S. has not participated in Israeli strikes on Iran.
The ongoing hostilities are expected to last "weeks, not days," according to regional and U.S. officials, and are adding to broader regional instability, compounded by the unresolved aftermath of Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. This conflict's prolonged nature threatens to further destabilize the Middle East, impacting regional security and civilian safety.
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts between Israel and Iran have significantly affected the economy and politics of the Middle East, with the tourism industry taking a hit as cultural landmarks like Jerusalem's Old City fall under lockdown due to the hostilities.
- As general-news covering the region continues to report on the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, businesses are expressing concerns about the impact of the prolonged conflict on their operations and profits, particularly those operating in the energy sector.
- Despite the focus on war-and-conflicts, the state of arts and culture in the Middle East remains under threat, with artists expressing fears about creative freedom and the future of their industry amidst the ongoing instability.
