ISTANBUL

The Iranian armed forces on Saturday called on residents and workers to move away from several major ports in the UAE amid escalating regional tensions.

In a notice, the forces called on people to immediately evacuate areas surrounding Jebel Ali Port, Khalifa Port, and Fujairah Port, according to the Fars news agency.

The notice claimed that the locations had become "legitimate targets" due to the presence of US military forces inside civilian facilities in those areas, adding the ports "could be targeted in the coming hours."

It urged citizens, residents, port workers and people in the vicinity of the facilities to leave the areas as quickly as possible for their safety.

Since Israel and the US launched joint attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,200 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, hostilities have escalated.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.