An urgent travel warning has been issued for Australians travelling to or transiting through Qatar, a major international hub often for connecting flights worldwide.

The Australian Government’s Smartraveller service, managed by DFAT, issued an overnight alert advising travellers to Qatar, including those transiting through Doha, to exercise a high degree of caution.

‘We’ve raised our level of advice for Qatar. We now advise “exercise a high degree of caution” due to ongoing hostilities in the region,’ the alert read.

‘Conflicts in the Middle East could lead to an increase in tensions elsewhere in the region and may result in airspace closures, flight cancellations and other travel disruptions.

‘Demonstrations and protest activity may also occur, and local security situations could deteriorate with little notice. Avoid all demonstrations and protests.’

The alert has been raised from Level 1 to Level 2, advising travellers to exercise a high degree of caution.

‘We’re not saying “don’t go” to this location. But you should do your research and take extra precautions. At level 2, there are more or higher risks than what you would typically find in a large Australian city,’ the advice said.

Level 3, one step above Qatar’s current travel advisory, urges travellers to ‘reconsider’ their need to travel. Level 4, the highest alert, advises against all travel and recommends those already there leave immediately due to ‘extreme health and safety risks’.

Travellers should monitor the media for new and existing risks, Smart Traveller said.

It comes as Australia closes its embassy in Tehran, as Iran and Israel continue to bomb each other and after President Donald Trump signalled the US could enter the conflict.

All foreign affairs staff and their dependents in the Iranian capital have been told to leave ‘based on advice about the deteriorating security environment’.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is deploying consular staff to Azerbaijan, including its border crossings, to support Australians departing Iran.

‘We urge Australians who are able to leave Iran to do so now, if it is safe,’ Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Friday.

‘Those who are unable to, or do not wish to leave, are advised to shelter in place.

‘We are continuing planning to support Australians seeking to depart Iran, and we remain in close contact with other partner countries.’

Meanwhile, there are still more than 1,200 Australians registered for assistance to depart Israel, where the airspace is also closed.
Trump, who has kept the world guessing about whether the US might join the war on Israel’s side, said he would make a decision within the next two weeks.

‘Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,’ press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters in Washington, quoting a message from the president.

The conflict between Israel and Iran erupted a week ago, when the former launched an attack against the Islamic republic’s missile capabilities, claiming it was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons.

Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 639 people and wounded 1,300 others, according to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group.

Israel says Iran’s retaliatory strikes have killed at least 24 and wounded hundreds.