Bermudians have been advised not to travel to the Middle East in the wake of escalating tensions in the region.

The Government issued the advisory after Iran carried out a series of missile strikes aimed at a US military base in Qatar yesterday.

According to the Reuters news agency, none of the missiles found their target.

The latest attack prompted Qatar, along with neighbouring Bahrain and Kuwait, to shut down their airspace, and Britain has advised its citizens in Qatar to “shelter in place”.

Last night, the Government released a statement that said: “The Government of Bermuda wishes to advise Bermudians in Qatar to shelter in place until further notice.”

The statement “strongly” advised Bermudians, as British nationals, to monitor the Foreign Office’s travel advice.

It added: “It is advised that Bermudians in the Middle East should register their presence with the Government of Bermuda London Office via the website bdalondonoffice.co.uk or via e-mail to londonoffice@gov.bm.”

A statement on the British Government’s website reads: “Following a US security alert for US nationals in Qatar, out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that British nationals in Qatar shelter in place until further notice.

“Follow instructions from local authorities. The Foreign Office is in contact with local authorities and international partners and will provide further updates as the situation develops.”

Bermuda has worked to forge closer ties in the region in recent years. In April 2023, the Government appointed a special adviser on Middle Eastern matters.

Providing details of the appointment a month later, Mr Burt said that the island had a recent history of establishing links with oil-rich states in the region and had signed a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding with Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Several government ministers and civil servants have travelled to the UAE in the past two years to attend conferences and training sessions.

Tensions flared up after Israel launched airstrikes against Iran this month.

On June 13, Israel began Operation Rising Lion, dropping 330 munitions on about 100 targets, hitting six cities including the capital, Tehran, and Iran’s nuclear facility in Natanz.

Israel justified the strike by claiming that Iran was close to developing nuclear warheads. Three nuclear facilities were targeted in the operation.

Iran said that the attack was “a declaration of war” and warned that it would retaliate.

That threat was carried out two days later, with missiles launched on the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa.

Both countries have since carried out missile attacks against each other.

The US became involved in the conflict on Saturday when bombers targeted Iranian nuclear sites in three cities.

Donald Trump, the US president, claimed that the mission had obliterated Iran’s nuclear capabilities and warned Tehran against retaliating.

That warning was not heeded and yesterday Iran attacked the US military base at Al-Udeid and Doha, the capital of Qatar.