• The ministry of external affairs (MEA) asked Indian citizens not to travel to Iran and Israel amid increasing fears that Tehran may launch an attack on Israeli soil in retaliation to a strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria on April 1.

• There have been mounting tensions in West Asia following the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. Iran blamed Israel for the strike.

• Countries including France, Poland and Russia have warned their citizens against travel to the region, already on edge over the war in Gaza, now in its seventh month. Germany called on its citizens to leave Iran.

• The MEA urged the Indians residing in Iran and Israel to exercise utmost precautions about their safety and restrict their movements to minimum.

• At present, around 4,000 Indians are residing in Iran while the number in Israel is nearly 18,500, according to official estimates.

• Israel has been on high alert following threats from Iran as well as intelligence reports suggesting that Tehran was preparing to attack targets in Israel to avenge the April 1 attack on its consulate in Damascus.

• Iranian media reported that seven Revolutionary Guards personnel, including two generals, were killed in the attack.

• Israel did not claim responsibility for the airstrike.

• India had expressed concern over the deadly attack on Iranian diplomatic premises in Syrian capital Damascus and said it is distressed at the escalating tensions in West Asia and their potential to fuel further instability.

• Israel has been continuing its military offensive in Gaza as part of its retaliation to the unprecedented attack on Israeli cities by Hamas on October 7.

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