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Andrew Brown

Warnings against travel to Middle East nations lifted

Flights to the Middle East are back on the agenda but the government is urging caution. (EPA PHOTO)

Travel warnings for Australians have been downgraded for several countries in the Middle East.

Advice for travel to Bahrain, Kuwait, Israel, Qatar and the UAE was lowered from the highest level of level four restrictions - do not travel - to level three - reconsider your need to travel.

The downgrade follows the US and Iran tentatively agreeing to a peace deal for the conflict in the Middle East, which is due to be formally agreed to on Friday in Switzerland.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the current conditions in parts of the region meant it was appropriate for the do-not-travel warning to be lifted.

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Penny Wong is still urging Australians to postpone non-essential travel to the region. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

"Level three remains a high threshold. We continue to urge Australians to postpone non-essential travel," she said in a statement.

"Reconsider your need to travel also means reconsider your need to transit. If you need to transit these locations, stay as short a time as possible and eliminate unnecessary activities."

A do-not-travel warning is still in effect for parts of Israel, as well as Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen.

Level four travel warnings meant travel insurance was often voided for Australian travellers flying overseas via the Middle East.

The do-not-travel warning was issued following the outbreak of the conflict in late February, with airports in the region being closed due to the threat of missiles.

Israel's ambassador to Australia Hillel Newman said the country supported the peace agreement between Iran and the US.

However, he said Israeli strikes against Lebanon would continue.

mideast
Israeli Ambassador to Australia Hillel Newman says his nation's strikes on Lebanon will continue. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

"Our operations in southern Lebanon are entirely for our defence," he told ABC Radio on Wednesday.

"We're trying to just bring defence and security to our people. If we have security, we will not continue our activities in southern Lebanon."

The strikes from Israel and Lebanon have raised fears the peace deal could fall apart.

However, US President Donald Trump said the war between Israel and Lebanon was a minor one and the peace deal would be able to survive.

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