Minister Khaleel Urges Vigilance as Govt Tracks Welfare of Citizens in the Face of Middle East Unrest

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdulla Khaleel announced on Monday that the ministry and its missions abroad are closely monitoring the safety and circumstances of Maldivian nationals in the Middle East, where confrontations involving Israel, Iran and the United States have intensified in recent weeks.

Minister Khaleel, writing on social media, urged Maldivians living in or travelling through the region to exercise heightened caution and to follow the guidance of local authorities.

Tensions in the region have escalated rapidly. On 13 June, the Zionist State of Israel launched airstrikes against Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks from Tehran. The conflict deepened on 22 June, when the United States, the biggest supporter of Israel, launched strikes on Iranian targets.

In response, Iran struck a US military base in Qatar. That incident led several Middle Eastern nations, including Qatar, to temporarily close their airspace. The specific closure introduced after the attack has since been lifted.

Minister Khaleel assured that Maldivian diplomatic missions remain engaged in tracking developments and maintaining contact with Maldivians across the affected areas. He called on citizens to remain attentive to unfolding events and to comply with instructions from host governments, especially in countries that had implemented or eased airspace restrictions.