The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) has tightened its advice for Jordan, warning against all but essential travel to Aqaba International Airport and the city’s seaport.
The move follows renewed security concerns around the Red Sea port city following attacks in the region.
Israeli and Jordanian forces reportedly intercepted an Iranian missile aimed at Aqaba on Sunday, with earlier reports of additional missiles being shot down by Jordan’s military after a US warning the port could be targeted.
Military officials have confirmed that two US service members died and another remains missing following Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks in Jordan on Friday, as reported by the BBC.
Aqaba is Jordan’s second busiest airport, after Queen Alia International Airport in the capital Amman.
The Foreign Office update comes just weeks after it eased travel restrictions on Jordan.
On 3 June, the destination was removed from the UK’s ‘no travel’ list, prompting operators to restart programmes and reopen bookings, with demand beginning to pick up.
The US and Iran agreed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in mid-June, after months of conflict. The MOU has now effectively collapsed, as strikes from both sides continue.
The Foreign Office also recently updated its travel advice for other countries in the Middle East, firstly for Bahrain and Kuwait, and then for the UAE – including Dubai – Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
In its latest travel advice for Jordan, the FCDO states: “The US and Iran have announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in relation to the conflict in the Middle East.
“The situation remains unpredictable. Iran has carried out further attacks on Jordan since the MOU was agreed, and could do so again at short notice.”
The advice warns that Iran has previously targeted civilian infrastructure across the region, including airports, ports, hotels, roads, bridges and energy facilities.
It states: “Before the 8 April ceasefire, the Iranian regime had stated its intention to target locations in the Gulf associated with the United States and Israel. This included US or Israeli-linked organisations, businesses, facilities and institutions.”
