Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has raised its travel advisories
for Israel and Iran amid rapidly escalating tensions in the Middle East and
urged Taiwanese nationals currently in Iran to leave immediately for their
safety.

In a news release, MOFA said its travel advisory for Israel was raised to
Level 3 -- the orange label -- advising Taiwanese nationals to avoid
traveling there unless absolutely necessary.

The foreign affairs ministry also raised the alert for Iran to Level 4, or
red - the highest level - urging Taiwanese nationals staying in the Islamic
country to leave as soon as possible.

The announcement came hours after Israel launched an airstrike against Iran,
targeting the Iranian nuclear program, and some key government figures and
nuclear scientists.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has justified the attacks by saying
that it was about Israel's "survival," accusing Iran of accelerating its
nuclear program in recent months.
International reactions to Israel's actions have been mixed.

While U.S. President Donald Trump called the Israel's strike "excellent" and
warned there would be "more to come," other nations, including Germany and
France, as well as the United Nations, have urged both sides to deescalate.

Today, Iran, which characterized the strike as a "declaration of war,"
retaliated with missile targeting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.