India on Tuesday advised Indians living in Israel to exercise caution, avoid unnecessary travel and stay close to safety shelters after the US warned that Iran was preparing to launch a ballistic missile attack at Israel in retaliation to its invasion in southern Lebanon.

In the advisory issued by the embassy of India in Tel Aviv, Indian nationals have been told to stay vigilant and adhere to the security protocols announced by the local authorities.

The Indian advisory came soon after the US also sounded an alert to its nationals living in Israel.

About 20,000 Indians live in Israel and most have continued to remain in the country even after the West Asian crisis opened a new chapter last year with the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 that drew the Hezbollah into the conflict and by extension, Iran.

This includes the 4,000-odd Indians who were recruited to work in Israel since the conflict began after Tel Aviv requested them to replace Palestinians in the construction industry in particular.