BERLIN

Germany issued a travel advisory on Friday, warning its citizens to avoid traveling to several Arab Gulf countries or, if already there, to register on the Foreign Ministry's crisis preparedness list in light of the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.

"Due to the ongoing military conflict between Israel and Iran, the security situation in the entire region has worsened. A regional escalation of the conflict cannot be ruled out. Airspace closures or flight disruptions could occur at any time. Several airlines have suspended flights to the region," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its website.

Germans, particularly those residing in the United Arab Emirates, are being asked to register on the Foreign Ministry's crisis preparedness list.

The travel alert affects trips to the UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain.

The Gulf region, with Doha, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai, is not one of the traditional top holiday destinations for Germans during the hot summer, but there are important transfer airports for Gulf airlines such as Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airlines on their route to Asia. ​​​​​​

Hostilities broke out last Friday when Israel launched airstrikes on several sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes.

Israeli authorities said at least 25 people have been killed and hundreds injured since then in Iranian missile attacks.

Meanwhile, in Iran, 639 people have been killed and more than 1,300 wounded in the Israeli assault, according to Iranian media reports.