Kenya has urged its citizens in the Middle East to "exercise extreme caution" amid joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, resulting in Tehran retaliating the deadly attacks.
"The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs wishes to advise Kenyans residing or travelling through the Middle East to take precautionary measures to ensure their safety," Kenya's Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi said in a statement on Sunday.
"In this regard, all Kenyan citizens in Iran, Israel, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq and surrounding areas are advised to take the following necessary precautions: exercise extreme caution and avoid non-essential movement, especially near high-risk areas such as military facilities and crowded public spaces; follow and comply with guidance issued by local security authorities; remain alert and monitor official communication from host governments regarding travel and safety updates, and be aware of flight and airspace disruptions," the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.
Nairobi further urged Kenyans who have not registered with their local embassy to "do so immediately to enable timely updates from the missions and assistance during emergencies."
Senior Iranian officials killed in joint US-Israeli strike
The East African nation further urged its citizens in need of urgent evacuation or intervention to reach the Kenyan embassy in the host countries.
A joint US-Israeli attack on Iran on Saturday killed at least 40 senior Iranian officials, including the nation's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Israeli media reported on Sunday.
The United States, under President Donald Trump, accused Khamenei's government of overseeing an oppressive regime. Trump, therefore, stated publicly that a regime change in Iran was necessary.
Israel, for its part, has been opposed to Iran's nuclear programme, saying it poses a security threat to the region.
Civilians killed in Iran
In response, Iran has accused both the United States and Israel of meddling in its internal affairs, and has vowed a strong response to the two allied nations' joint offensive on Tehran.
Since the commencement of the February 28 strikes on Iran, at least 200 people have lost their lives in different Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran, according to official figures.
