An urgent travel warning has been issued for Australians heading to or transiting through Qatar due to escalating tensions in the Middle East. The Australian Government’s Smartraveller service, overseen by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), raised Qatar’s travel advisory to Level 2, urging travellers to “exercise a high degree of caution.” While not advising against travel entirely, the alert warns of the potential for regional hostilities to cause airspace closures, flight disruptions, or sudden demonstrations. The advisory stresses that travellers should avoid protests and remain informed of changing security conditions, emphasizing that the risks in Qatar are now considered higher than those typically found in major Australian cities.

This heightened alert follows broader developments in the Middle East, where conflict between Israel and Iran continues to escalate. Australia has closed its embassy in Tehran and advised all diplomats and dependents to evacuate due to deteriorating security. Consular staff have been deployed to Azerbaijan to assist Australians attempting to leave Iran. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has urged Australians to depart Iran if it’s safe to do so, while also coordinating support efforts for those unable or unwilling to leave. Meanwhile, over 1,200 Australians remain registered for assistance to exit Israel, whose airspace has also been shut. As the violence intensifies—with hundreds dead in Iran from Israeli airstrikes and dozens killed in Iran’s retaliation—uncertainty grows over whether the US, under President Trump, will join the conflict, with a decision expected within two weeks.