India on Friday issued an advisory urging all Indians to avoid travel to Israel and Iran in view of the escalating tensions between the two countries.

The advisory came on a day the US restricted travel by its embassy personnel in Israel fearing an imminent attack from Iran. Several other governments too have issued advisories against travel to either country.

Iran is widely expected to attack Israel as it has vowed to avenge the April 1 bombing of its embassy in the Syrian capital, Damascus. Iran claims that seven of its military advisers were killed in the attack.

"In view of the prevailing situation in the region, all Indians are advised not to travel to Iran or Israel till further notice," the Indian advisory said.

"All those who are currently residing in Iran or Israel are requested to get in touch with Indian Embassies there and register themselves. They are also requested to observe utmost precautions about their safety and restrict their movements to the minimum."

There was no official word from either side on whether the construction workers being sent from India to Israel as part of a government-to-government agreement would continue to go under the changed circumstances. In all, 1,500 workers were expected to travel to Israel this month.

According to the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv, there are about 18,000 Indians in Israel, mostly caregivers employed by Israeli elders apart from diamond traders, IT professionals and students.

Most of them had chosen to stay on even though India had organised an evacuation exercise after the October 7 terror attack by Hamas on Israel. The number of Indians in Iran is much fewer — around 4,000.

Soon after the Iranian embassy in Damascus was hit, India had said: "We have noted with concern the attack on Iranian diplomatic premises on Syria on 1st April, 2024. India is distressed at the escalating tensions in West Asia and the potential to fuel further violence and instability...."