The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) has warned South Africans stranded in the Middle East that government assistance may be limited as missiles, rockets and drones continue to criss-cross regional airspace and airlines ground aircraft, reports The Witness.

In an alert posted on its official X account on Tuesday afternoon, Dirco cautioned that its ability to render help would depend on conditions in specific countries and cities.

“It’s important to note that South Africa’s support in [some] countries could be limited and that it could be assumed that no face-to-face consular assistance will be possible in an emergency,” read the post.

“The South African government may not be able to help you if you get into difficulty, depending on your location,” it read.

“Therefore, citizens are further encouraged to assess their own safety and security,” the alert read.

Dirco provided contact details for South African missions in countries including the United Arab Emirates, Syria and others in the region.

The warning comes as hostilities between Iran, Israel and the United States intensify. International media, including the BBC and Reuters, have reported repeated missile and drone exchanges, with air defence systems activated across parts of the Gulf and Levant.

Several major carriers have suspended or rerouted flights after airspace closures in parts of Iran, Israel, Iraq and neighbouring states.

Airlines operating through hubs such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi have either grounded aircraft or diverted flights, citing safety concerns as projectiles and military drones traverse civilian flight paths. Departure boards at major airports have reflected widespread cancellations and delays.

The US has urged its citizens to leave the region where commercial options remain available and advised them to make their own travel arrangements.

Other Western governments have issued similar advisories, warning that consular capacity could be severely constrained if the conflict escalates further.

Democratic Alliance MP Ryan Smith said the party was concerned about reports from stranded South Africans struggling to reach officials.

“Thousands of stranded citizens have expressed to us directly or via social media that Dirco and embassy emails bounce back, phone numbers do not work, phones remain unanswered for days, and, or, that the Dirco Mobile Travel APP is faulty,” he said.

Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.

Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.