The French Foreign Ministry on August 2 called on its citizens to leave Iran as soon as possible following the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in an Israeli strike in Tehran.

The French news agency AFP reported that "Paris urged its citizens in Iran to leave quickly as soon as possible."

This comes amid growing concerns of an escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran and its allies. Haniyeh was killed in Tehran on Wednesday, a day after Hezbollah military commander Fouad Shukr was assassinated in an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs.

Reuters had earlier reported, citing sources, that Iran and its allies met on August 2 to discuss potential responses to Israel following Haniyeh's assassination.

Following France, Poland advised its nationals against travelling to Lebanon, Israel and Iran as tensions continue to mount in the region.

“In connection with a growing number of Polish tourists visiting Lebanon, Israel and Iran, we want to repeat that we have long advised against any kind of travel to this region,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on the social media platform X.

“The unstable security situation makes it possible to believe that it will be more and more difficult to leave the three countries,” the ministry added.

Earlier on August 2, Polish airline LOT announced the cancellation of eight flights to Lebanon and Israel due to the security situation.

The announcement from Poland follows several cancellations in other European countries, including Czechia, where several flights back to Israel were cancelled.

According to five sources quoted by Reuters, "senior Iranian officials will meet with representatives of allied factions from Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen on Thursday to discuss the potential response to Israel after the killing of Ismail Haniyeh."

Western intelligence sources told Sky News Arabia that they had evidence Iran intends to attack Israel on Tisha B’Av, which begins on August 12 and ends on August 13.

That attack would reportedly be coordinated with Hezbollah, which is based in Lebanon.

France's move follows similar warnings from Western countries as governments seek to protect their citizens from potential fallout from the worsening security situation.

Britain reiterated its call that it cannot protect its citizens in Iran and again advised all citizens and Iranians with UK visas to avoid visiting the Islamic Republic. 

"FCDO advises against all travel to Iran. British and British-Iranian dual nationals are at significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention. Having a British passport or connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you."