France has warned its citizens to "imperatively refrain from travel in the coming days to Iran, Lebanon, 'Israel' and the Palestinian territories", the foreign minister's entourage told AFP on Friday.

France’s Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné issued the recommendation after Iran threatened retaliation over an “Israeli” strike on an Iranian consular annex in Damascus, Syria - sparking fears of an escalation of violence in the Middle East.

Also Read: Russia calls on Iran, “Israel” to exercise restraint

American intelligence indicated that Iran could directly attack “Israeli” soil in the next 24 to 48 hours, in a retaliatory strike for the attack on the Iranian consular annex in Damascus which left seven revolutionary guards dead, including senior general Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a commander in the Quds Force in Syria and Lebanon - as reported by the Wall Street journal.

A US official familiar with the matter cited by WSJ has said that “Israel” is preparing for a “direct attack from Iran on southern or northern Israel as soon as Friday or Saturday.”

Iran has threatened to retaliate against the “Israeli” consulate attack, with several senior Iranian officials publicly warning the Israeli Occupation.

The US has been expecting since last week that Iran or its proxies may soon carry out missile strikes targeting “Israeli” assets. However, the recent assessment indicates that the attack will be carried out on “Israeli” soil - as opposed to “Israeli” interests elsewhere.

A person briefed by the Iranian leadership said that while plans to attack are being discussed, no final decision has been made - according to WSJ.

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