This Friday, the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs strengthened its warning to avoid travel to Israel and countries in the region at a time of great tension in the Middle East due to a possible attack by Tehran on Israelis.
“Given the state of war since October 7 and recent threats to Israel, and taking into account the risks of conflict, all non-essential travel to Israel and countries in the region should continue to be avoided,” the Portuguese diplomat said. , in a statement.
This enhanced warning appears on the community portal and calls on the country’s citizens to “respect the warnings issued by the Israeli authorities and follow all safety instructions they issue.”
“There is a risk of terrorist attacks, mainly on government, military and security installations, public transport and crowded places, using firearms, bladed weapons or vehicles, so the greatest precautions are recommended on all trips,” you can read if you still .
The Foreign Ministry, headed by Paulo Rangel, also emphasized that they “continue to constantly monitor the situation.”
Declared an enemy of Israel and an ally of the Palestinian extremist group Hamas, Iran has threatened to punish Israel following the April 1 attack on the Damascus consulate.
The attack killed 16 people, including seven members of Iran’s Quds Force, Tehran’s ideological army through which the regime exercises regional influence.
Among those killed were the head of the Quds Force in Syria and Lebanon, General Mohamed Reza Zahedi, and his deputy, General Mohamed Hadi Haj Rahimi.
Iran and Syria attributed the attack to Israel, which has not confirmed its involvement but continues to be held responsible, including by its own allies.
After the attack, Iranian authorities warned that they reserved the right of response, and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel would regret it.
Tensions between Israel and Iran have increased significantly since the Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip, which followed the Hamas attack on Israeli soil on October 7, 2023.
According to Israeli authorities, the unprecedented attack led to the death of about 1,200 people and the taking of two hundred hostages.
The Israeli offensive in Gaza has killed more than 33,600 people and destroyed numerous infrastructure, according to health authorities in the Palestinian enclave, which has been ruled by Hamas since 2007.
Israel, the United States and the European Union classify Hamas as a terrorist organization.