"Stay Vigilant": Indian Embassy In Israel Issues Advisory For Citizens

The Indian Embassy in Israel has advised its citizens in the country "to stay vigilant and adhere to safety protocols" issued by the local authorities. India made this move due to escalating tensions in the region following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. In a post on X on Friday, the Indian Embassy also urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel in the country. 

"Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary travel within the country and stay close to safety shelters," said the Embassy in the advisory. "The Embassy is closely monitoring the situation and remains in touch with Israeli authorities to ensure safety of its nationals," the advisory read. The Indian Embassy also shared two contact numbers for its citizens to reach out for any assistance. As the situation in the Middle East rapidly evolving, the Indian Embassy in Lebanon also urged Indian nationals to leave the country and advised citizens against travelling to Lebanon till further notice.

Meanwhile, Air India has canceled flights to and from Tel Aviv. The flight operations were suspended until August 8. Air India operates four flights from Delhi to Tel Aviv every week. Several international airlines have already suspended their operations to Israel. On the other hand, the Pentagon said on Friday that the US military will deploy additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the Middle East. According to a Reuters report, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had approved sending additional Navy cruisers and destroyers to the Middle East and Europe.