Efforts to repatriate citizens amid ongoing escalations in the Middle East are underway, with governments and security firms supporting organisations in protecting personnel across the region.

Since 28 February, security and health services company International SOS has evacuated 300 people via land and air in response to the unfolding situation.

The advisory recommends deferring all inbound travel to Iran until further notice. Foreign nationals and foreign business travellers currently in Iran should depart via commercially available options. All inbound travel to Israel and the Palestinian Territories should also be deferred amid heightened regional tensions there. Travel to and transit through Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE should be deferred until 6 March, it said, due to the risk of further targeted Iranian retaliatory attacks, and related airspace closures, flight cancellations and disruption. Non-essential travel to and transit through Cyprus should also be deferred until further notice amid regional instability and risks of airstrikes. All travel to Lebanon should be deferred until further notice amid an intensification of the Israeli air campaign and ground operations in the south, as well as broader regional instability. Travel to Yemen and Syria should also be deferred until further notice.

In Iran, aerial strikes are occurring daily against defence and military sites and government buildings, including in the capital Tehran and other urban centres. In a briefing note, International SOS said significant disruption to telecommunications, including internet access, had been reported countrywide since the US-Israeli campaign began on 28 February.

“Iran and its Lebanon-based ally Hizbullah continue to launch retaliatory missiles and drone strikes towards Israel," the firm stated. "These have prompted the Israeli authorities to announce a nationwide state of emergency and close the country’s airspace. Israel’s Home Front Command has issued several movement restrictions, including prohibiting work, education and public gatherings until further notice. Air defence systems are capable of intercepting threats, though such incidents may result in direct hits and/or shrapnel falling in populated areas due to miscalculation or saturation. Sirens will be activated across Israel when aerial strikes are imminent."

International SOS said Israeli airspace will remain closed until 10.00 on 6 March, while Iranian and Iraqi airspace will respectively be shut until 08.30 and 09.00 on 7 March (all times UTC). Airspace closures had also been implemented in Bahrain, Kuwait, Syria and Qatar, and are liable to be extended or reinstated at short notice. Limited flights via Al Maktoum (DWC) and Dubai (DXB) international airports (both UAE) resumed on 2 March. The firm said airspace closures may be imposed or active restrictions extended at short notice in other countries. Several international carriers have suspended flights to the region until at least 5 March.

On the outlook for the regional crisis, International SOS warned of further Israel-US aerial strikes in the coming days. “These will target Iranian military infrastructure, missile production and storage sites, air defence systems, nuclear facilities, government infrastructure, and government and military leadership,” it said. “Such operations will remain focused on disrupting Iran’s ability to co-ordinate regional proxies and retaliate effectively. US involvement is likely to focus on force protection, intelligence-sharing, air and missile defence integration, as well as selective strike support, aiming to reinforce deterrence. Iran will continue to retaliate against US military assets and Israeli assets throughout the region, as well as civilian infrastructure, disrupting maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.”

Commenting on the insurance implications of the ongoing situation, Chris Jones, chief executive of the International Underwriting Association, said insurers have well established policy protections to manage war risks, and ensure that trade can continue to flow. “The International Underwriting Association and Lloyd’s Market Association jointly engage security expert consultants to provide independent advice about areas of enhanced risk. This gives underwriters the information they need to respond appropriately. Iran and the Persian Gulf is, of course, currently an area of maximum risk severity, but insurance is still available to operators in the area, including the Straits of Hormuz. The aviation industry also has robust protocols in place to ensure the safety of passengers and insurers are working with brokers and airlines to support flights into and out of affected regions when it safe to do so.”


Advice for workforces in the region (Source: International SOS)

The advisory issued the following advice for workforces in the region:

• Minimise time spent in the vicinity of US military and diplomatic facilities, as well as Israeli diplomatic missions across the region, as further Iranian aerial strikes are likely to occur in the coming days. If in the vicinity of the US and, where present, Israeli military and diplomatic sites, confirm shelter-in-place procedures.

• Closely monitor regional developments via verified sources, diplomatic missions, and local contacts. Do not act upon unverified information and do not post or share unverified information on social media.

• Follow all official directives and guidance, including any local emergency and evacuation procedures, movement restrictions, curfews and road closures.

• Account for airspace closures and flight cancellations and related disruption across the region.

• Israeli and US nationals in countries across the Middle East and North Africa should exercise caution and maintain a low profile amid heightened tensions.

---