Estonian foreign ministry strongly advises against travel to Saudi Arabia

Estonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly advised against travel to Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East, as the Houthis, a rebel group from Yemen, have sharply stepped up attacks on Saudi Arabia in recent days. The targets include both civilians and civilian infrastructure.

On Sunday night, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, was attacked. According to preliminary reports, 12 people were killed and more than 300 were injured. It was the deadliest terrorist attack in the country in the past decade.

The ministry's warning

The ministry says the security situation in the Middle East is changing rapidly and is hard to predict. New attacks could come with little warning, and further escalation might seriously disrupt air traffic and even lead to the temporary closure of national borders.

Estonian citizens already in the region are asked to exercise extreme caution, avoid large gatherings and other high-risk places, and follow instructions from local authorities.

Citizens are also asked to register their stay abroad through the ministry's Reisi Targalt travel advisory portal, so that they can be reached quickly if necessary.

Estonia's position

Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said that killing civilians and attacking civilian infrastructure are flagrant violations of international law. He stressed that Estonia unequivocally condemns the Houthi terrorist attacks.