The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice to warn against all travel to Israel and Palestine.
In a statement on its website, it said: “Due to the threat posed by escalation in the region, we recommend against all travel to Israel and Palestine.
“On 28 February 2026, the US and Israel commenced joint military action in Iran, Israeli airspace has now closed.”
British nationals in the region are urged to take “sensible precautions”, including following advice from regional authorities, staying away from military facilities and ensuring travel documents are up to date.
The Foreign Office has also updated travel advice for UK nationals in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait to warn people to “immediately shelter in place”.
The advice on the FCDO website said: “Remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel and follow instructions from the local authorities.”
The UK Government said its priority is “the safety of UK nationals” in the Middle East but that it is “ready to protect our interests”.
It is understood the UK was not involved in the US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Sir Keir Starmer will chair a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee on Saturday morning.
A Government spokesperson said: “Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and that is why we have continually supported efforts to reach a negotiated solution.
“Our immediate priority is the safety of UK nationals in the region and we will provide them with consular assistance, available 24/7.
“As part of our longstanding commitments to the security of our allies in the Middle East, we have a range of defensive capabilities in the region, which we have recently bolstered. We stand ready to protect our interests.
“We do not want to see further escalation into a wider regional conflict.”
Global airlines cancelled flights across the Middle East on Saturday.
Airspace over Iran and Iraq was empty on Saturday morning, maps by flight-tracking service Flightradar24 showed.
Below is the latest on flights listed by airline in alphabetical order:
AIR FRANCE KLM
Air France AIRF.PA cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv in Israel and Beirut in Lebanon for Saturday.
KLM brought forward the suspension of its Amsterdam–Tel Aviv service, cancelling the flight scheduled for Saturday. The Dutch arm of Air France‑KLM had announced on Wednesday that flights would be halted from Sunday, but has now advanced that date.
Only one flight to Tel Aviv had been scheduled for Saturday.
INDIGO
The airline said it was monitoring regional updates.
JAPAN AIRLINES
Japan Airlines 9201.T cancelled a flight on Saturday from Tokyo Haneda to Doha as well as a return flight on March 1, Nikkei said.
LUFTHANSA
The German airline LHAG.DE suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv in Israel, Beirut in Lebanon, and Oman until March 7 and flights to and from Dubai on Saturday and Sunday.
They also said they would not add Israeli, Lebanese, Jordanian, Iraqi and Iranian airspace until March 7.
VIRGIN ATLANTIC
Virgin Atlantic said it will temporarily avoid Iraqi airspace, resulting in some pre-planned rerouting of its flights and cancelled its VS400 service from London Heathrow to Dubai on Saturday.
WIZZ AIR
The airline WIZZ.L halted flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman with immediate effect until March 7.
It added that operational decisions would continue to be reviewed, and the flight schedule could be adjusted as the situation evolves.
