By: Fern Sidman

In the wake of Israel’s unprecedented preemptive strike on Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure, the country’s National Security Council (NSC) issued a global travel advisory on Friday, warning that terrorist elements affiliated with Iran and its proxies may target Israeli and Jewish civilians across the globe.

As reported by The Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) on Friday morning, the NSC’s statement reflects rising concern that Tehran or affiliated terror networks may retaliate not only against Israeli assets but also against soft targets abroad — including synagogues, Jewish schools, community centers, and individual travelers. The warning follows the Israeli Air Force’s massive aerial campaign early Friday, described by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as a “precise, combined offensive” aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

In its official communique, Israel’s National Security Council emphasized the “clear and immediate” danger posed to Jews worldwide in the current climate, stating: “Recent developments increase the likelihood that terrorist elements will seek to carry out acts of revenge against Israeli and Jewish targets around the world, including civilians.”

According to the information provided in the JNS report, the advisory includes a comprehensive list of recommendations for Israelis abroad: avoid any display of Israeli or Jewish symbols in public spaces, refrain from posting location details or travel plans on social media, steer clear of large events with a Jewish or Israeli affiliation and maintain close cooperation with local security agencies.

The directive also encourages heightened situational awareness and caution in public venues. Citizens were urged to register their travel plans with Israel’s Foreign Ministry and to make note of critical emergency contacts, including the Ministry’s Situation Room at +972-2-530-3155. For those needing further assistance, the NSC hotline can be reached at +972-2-666-7444, +972-2-666-7428, or via WhatsApp at +972-50-2418-480.

The advisory follows a night of dramatic escalation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel had launched Operation Rising Lion, a sweeping military campaign against Iran’s nuclear sites, long-range missile bases, and key figures within Tehran’s nuclear and military establishments. In remarks carried prominently by JNS, Netanyahu said the decision to strike was made to eliminate an “existential threat to Israel’s very survival.”

“We struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment and weaponization program,” Netanyahu declared Friday morning. “And we will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.” The JNS report quoted defense sources who confirmed that dozens of IDF fighter jets participated in the operation, dropping over 300 precision-guided munitions on more than 100 strategic locations across Iran, including the controversial Natanz facility.

Israel’s bold move follows months of rising tensions — exacerbated by Iran’s direct missile attack on Israeli territory earlier this spring, and its continued sponsorship of terror groups including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. The JNS editorial board emphasized that Iran’s march toward nuclear capability has been aided by “years of international dithering,” leaving Israel little choice but to act unilaterally to preserve its national security.

For diaspora Jewish communities, the concern now shifts to potential reprisals. As the National Security Council warned, “Terrorist operatives may seek to exploit moments of distraction, gatherings, or religious observances to conduct attacks.” With summer travel on the rise and religious events often held in open, public spaces, security experts quoted by JNS called attention to the need for Jewish institutions to bolster their safety protocols.

In cities such as Paris, London, and Buenos Aires — home to large Jewish populations — local law enforcement has already begun coordination with Israeli diplomatic posts. In New York and Los Angeles, Jewish communal security organizations are reportedly in constant contact with Israel’s consulates and American counterterrorism agencies.

Analysts speaking to JNS noted that the current atmosphere is among the most volatile in recent memory. The war between Israel and Hamas that began after the October 7 massacre remains ongoing in Gaza. Hezbollah has escalated its attacks on Israel’s northern border. And now, Iran — long viewed as the ideological and financial engine of this axis of hostility — has become a direct target of Israeli air power.

As JNS reported, the overarching concern among Israeli officials is that Iran may activate terror cells across the Middle East, Europe, and North America in a coordinated campaign of vengeance. Such networks, often latent and difficult to track, pose a decentralized threat that cannot be easily neutralized by military force.

For now, Israeli authorities are urging calm but unambiguous vigilance. The JNS report noted that Israeli embassies and Jewish institutions in sensitive regions have raised their alert status, and that community leaders are urging members to report any suspicious behavior immediately.

Israel’s message to its citizens abroad is clear: This is a moment of national unity and resolve, but also of elevated risk. The frontlines are no longer confined to Gaza, Lebanon, or even Iran. In the age of asymmetric warfare, the battlefield includes synagogues, airports, kosher restaurants, and homes of Jewish families from Sydney to Stockholm.

As one official told JNS, “This is not just Israel’s fight. It is a struggle for the right of the Jewish people to live freely and without fear anywhere in the world.”

With its global reach and firm ideological commitment, Iran has shown again and again that its hostility to Israel is not merely territorial — it is existential. And as Israel defends its sovereignty from existential threats, Jewish communities worldwide must now prepare to defend their own safety from the shadows of reprisal.