Israel has withdrawn from the premier women’s tennis tournament scheduled for April in Bosnia, citing tangible security concerns amid escalating regional tensions. The International Tennis Federation approved the decision after the Israel Tennis Association conducted a detailed review of the security situation and potential risks to players.

The association said the move was influenced by travel risks to the Muslim-majority Balkan country and the participation of teams from other Muslim nations. Officials also noted that hosting the tournament in Israel had been considered but was ruled out due to the current security climate.

Team captain Ronen Morley said the decision was made with players’ safety as the top priority, particularly given that many team members are young. The withdrawal follows a travel warning from Israel’s National Security authority, which cited concrete concerns about threats to Israelis abroad amid ongoing conflict involving Iran and Hezbollah.