US and UK Issue Urgent Warnings for Nationals to Leave Lebanon
Beirut, The Gulf Observer: The United States and the United Kingdom have urgently advised their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately due to fears of a broader escalation with Israel.
The US Embassy in Beirut announced on Sunday that while several airlines have cancelled flights, “commercial transportation options to leave Lebanon remain available.” The embassy emphasized, “We encourage those who wish to depart Lebanon to book any ticket available to them, even if that flight does not depart immediately or does not follow their first-choice route.” It also advised those choosing to stay to “prepare contingency plans for emergencies and be prepared to shelter in place for an extended period.”
Similarly, the UK government stressed, “The UK continues to advise against all travel to Lebanon and advises British nationals still in the country to leave now while commercial options remain available.” Additionally, it was noted that the families of officials working at the British Embassy in Beirut have been temporarily withdrawn from the region.
France, Canada, and Jordan have joined the US and UK in urging their citizens to leave Lebanon. Recent developments in the Middle East have prompted airlines from the US, Netherlands, India, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, France, and Poland to cancel some flights to Israel and Lebanon for security reasons.
The security situation in Lebanon has deteriorated following an Israeli air strike on a southern suburb of Beirut on Tuesday, which resulted in the assassination of senior Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr. The country is currently in a state of heightened security and military alert.
