South Korea Enforces Urgent Travel Ban to Israel-Lebanon Border as Gulf Conflict Intensifies

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South Korea’s Foreign Ministry has imposed a travel ban on the Israel-Lebanon border regions and issued a special travel advisory for Iran, starting Wednesday, as tensions escalate in the Middle East following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

The travel ban targets the northern border area of Israel within 4 km of the Blue Line and the southern border region of Lebanon within 5 km of the Blue Line. The United Nations established the Blue Line in 2000 to confirm Israel’s military withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

A level 3 alert, which advises citizens to evacuate these regions unless absolutely necessary and to defer or cancel any planned trips, remains in effect for other parts of Israel and Lebanon, excluding the Gaza Strip and the Israel-Lebanon border area, both of which are under a travel ban.

In Iran, the Foreign Ministry has maintained a level 3 travel advisory for certain areas while upgrading regions previously under a level 2 alert (urging caution) to a special travel advisory. The affected areas in Iran include the border regions with Turkey and Iraq, Sistan-Baluchestan Province, and the coastal provinces of Hormozgan, Bushehr, and Khuzestan along the Persian Gulf.

As of Tuesday, approximately 550 South Korean citizens live in Israel, 120 in Lebanon, and 110 in Iran, not including embassy staff, according to the Foreign Ministry. In response to the escalating situation, Korean Air, South Korea’s official airline, has canceled all flights to Tel Aviv.

South Korea’s heightened travel alerts reflect growing concerns about potential conflict in the Middle East. Despite Israel not officially claiming responsibility for Haniyeh’s assassination on July 31, which followed shortly after the Israeli assassination of Hezbollah’s military chief Fuad Shukr in Beirut, Iran has vowed retaliation.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Sunday that Iran and Hezbollah, supported by Iran, might launch attacks on Israel within 24 to 48 hours.