NATO states inform residents to abandon Lebanon

2024-07-30 05:12:13

(MENAFN) In response to escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, several NATO countries, including the United States, have issued urgent travel warnings for Lebanon, advising their citizens to leave the country immediately. The heightened alert comes amid fears of a potential full-scale war.

Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah surged dramatically on Saturday following a rocket attack that resulted in the deaths of 12 children in Majdal Shams, a Druze town in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attributed the rocket to Hezbollah, claiming it was an Iranian-made Falaq-1 missile launched from southern Lebanon. However, Hezbollah has denied involvement in the attack.

The United States Embassy in Beirut issued a travel advisory urging Americans to "strongly reconsider travel to Lebanon," citing a volatile and rapidly changing security environment. The United Kingdom's Foreign Office has advised against all travel to Lebanon due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Similar warnings have been issued by France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, as well as non-NATO countries including Ireland and Australia.

The conflict between the IDF and Hezbollah has intensified since the outbreak of war in Gaza in early October. Hezbollah has consistently targeted Israeli positions with rockets and mortar shells, while Israel has responded with artillery fire and airstrikes. In retaliation for Saturday’s attack, Israel has threatened Hezbollah with "all-out war." Foreign Minister Israel Katz declared that Hezbollah had "crossed all red lines" and warned of a severe response.

In response to the escalating situation, Israel's security cabinet convened on Sunday evening and granted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant the authority to decide on the scale and timing of potential military operations against Hezbollah. The move underscores Israel's readiness to escalate its military actions in response to the increasing threats.

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