Turkey says it is 'safe' to visit after Israeli warning

Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said there was 'real and immediate danger' from Iranian agents in Turkey

Skyscrapers stand on the skyline of the business district in Istanbul, where officials from Israel have said Iranian agents are planning attacks on Israeli citizens. Bloomberg

Turkey assured tourists on Tuesday that it is “a safe country” after Israeli authorities urged citizens to leave over fears of Iranian attacks.

Although the statement from Turkey's Foreign Ministry did not name Israel directly, it did say “some countries” had issued travel warnings.

The statement said Turkey “is a safe country and continues to fight against terrorism”.

“These travel warnings are considered to be related to different international developments and motives,” it added.

Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Monday urged citizens in Turkey to leave “as soon as possible” due to “a real and immediate danger” posed by Iranian operatives reportedly planning attacks on Israelis in Istanbul.

On Monday, Israel's Yediot Aharonot newspaper quoted an unnamed security official who said several Iranian “cells” were planning operations against Israeli tourists in Turkey.

The warnings come amid the latest rise in tension between Iran and Israel, with Tehran blaming the country for a series of attacks on nuclear and military infrastructure both in Iran and Syria.

Turkey has long been a popular holiday destination for Israelis, even during more than a decade of diplomatic rupture between the two countries.

Israel and Turkey have worked to mend ties in recent months, with senior Turkish leaders pointing to the importance of Israelis to the country's tourism sector.

The warning from Israel came as the US announced President Joe Biden would visit Israel and Saudi Arabia next month.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz on Tuesday called for greater co-operation between the US, Israel and Arab states to counter Iran.

“In the face of Iranian belligerence … what is needed is not just co-operation, but also a regional force build-up, with American leadership, which would strengthen all parties involved,” he said, according to an official transcript.

“On this, we are working continually for the sake of the security of Israel's citizens,” Mr Gantz said.