South Korea Advises Short-Term Visitors to Leave Middle East Amid U.S.-Iran Clashes

South Korea's foreign ministry advised short-term visitors to leave the Middle East promptly on July 20, Yonhap reported. The warning followed a meeting the previous day with representatives from 17 diplomatic missions, including embassies in Iran and Israel, to review safety measures for South Korean nationals and vessels.

Armed clashes between the United States and Iran had continued for more than a week after last month's preliminary peace deal collapsed, Yonhap said.

The Strait of Hormuz has largely been blocked during the fighting. Most Middle Eastern countries have remained under a Level 3 Travel Advisory since March, recommending that travelers leave unless necessary. Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina said short-term visitors should depart promptly unless they have compelling reasons to remain.

Kim also called for heightened vigilance to ensure the safety of South Korean vessels operating in the Red Sea amid recent military tensions involving Yemen's Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia. Diplomatic missions in the Middle East said they would continue to monitor the situation and take proactive measures to protect South Korean nationals.

Targets in Qatar, Kuwait and Oman. The commander of the Aerospace Force in Iran's Revolutionary Guards vowed that Tehran would not halt its attacks until the United States stopped striking Iran's southern coastline and the Strait of Hormuz.