Get out of Lebanon NOW: Brits and Americans are given urgent warning to leave the country amid growing fears Israel-Hamas war will spread
Several nations, including Germany, France and Spain, joined the US and the UK in warning their citizens to stay out of Lebanon
By Perkin Amalaraj
Daily Mail
Oct 19, 2023
Protesters try to remove barbed wires that block a road leading to the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon
The US and the UK have warned their citizens to get out of Lebanon as soon as possible, amid fears that Israel's war with Hamas may become a war on two fronts if Hezbollah joins the fray.
The two nations have said that flaring tensions and increasing instability may leave people stranded if they wait too long.
The warnings come as Lebanon, which shares its southern border with Israel, warned that its border dispute with Israel has become a tinderbox that may ignite at any time.
The US State Department publicly said on Wednesday that 'US citizens [should] not travel to Lebanon due to the unpredictable security situation.
'The Department of State urges U.S. citizens in Lebanon to make plans to depart as soon as possible while commercial options are still available.
Protestors started several fires at the US embassy in Beirut
'We recommend that U.S. citizens who choose not to depart prepare contingency plans for emergency situations.'
It also advised that Americans in Lebanon make plans to depart that do not rely on the US government.
The US' warning comes amid growing rage outside its embassy in Beirut, with Lebanese citizens' anger at the US culminating in fires being set outside.
All non-essential State Department staff have been told to leave the city, and a level four travel advisory has been issued to all Americans advising against travel to Lebanon.
The UK swiftly followed suit, with the FCDO starkly warning: 'Do not rely on the FCDO being able to evacuate you in an emergency.
'Events in Lebanon are fast moving. The situation has potential to deteriorate quickly and with no warning.
'Commercial routes out of Lebanon could be severely disrupted or cancelled at short notice and roads across the country could be closed. If you are currently in Lebanon, we encourage you to leave now while commercial options remain available.'
The FCDO's map of safe places to travel in Lebanon is entirely red, indicating it advises against all travel in the country
The UK has also withdrawn family members of staff at its embassy in Beirut, but stressed: 'The embassy continues with essential work including services to British nationals.'
The US and the UK were not the only nations to warn its citizens of the dangers of travelling to or staying in Lebanon.
France, Canada, Spain and Australia all issued warnings to its citizens not to travel to the Middle Eastern nation.
The FCDO starkly warning: 'Do not rely on the FCDO being able to evacuate you in an emergency'
Protesters held up a doll with red paint on its face, along with a sign which said: ' Crime against humanity,' and Palestinian flags in Tunis today
Riot police lobbed dozens of tear gas canisters and fired water cannons to disperse demonstrators in Lebanon
Demonstrators in Beirut, Lebanon, attempt to remove barbed wire
Germany's Foreign Ministry urged German citizens to leave Lebanon on Thursday.
German citizens were also urged to register their contact details on an online crisis portal and be aware of current safety advisories in the country, the ministry wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
And several Nordic countries, including Denmark, Sweden and Norway have further tightened their travel advisories for Lebanon and cautioned against travel there until further notice.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said Thursday that Norway was 'tightening the travel advice due to the serious security situation in the region. There are daily military actions on the border between Lebanon and Israel. This increases the risk throughout Lebanon.'
Denmark's Foreign Ministry said the security level in Lebanon had been changed to red.
'Staying in Lebanon entails a very high security risk,' the ministry said. It 'strongly encouraged' Danish citizens in the country to leave.
Lebanese soldiers carry one of their team members on their back after they clashed with protesters outside US Embassy in Beirut
Lebanese soldiers clash with a man outside the US embassy in Beirut, Lebanon today
Lebanese army soldiers scuffle with protesters during a demonstration in Beirut
Barth Eide noted that flights were still available from Beirut but that 'at short notice, it may become even more difficult to leave Lebanon.'
Sweden's travel advice was updated late Wednesday.
Lebanon warned Israel of 'uncontrollable escalation' as protests broke out across several Muslim countries - after Hezbollah called for a 'day of rage' over a hospital that was bombed in Gaza.
Israel's military said that it is responding to shots fired at military posts across the Lebanon border and said posts are being attacked in the Zar'it area.
Sirens sounded in northern Israel near the Lebanon border, including in the city of Kiryat Shmona, warning of possible incoming rocket attacks, the Israeli military said.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said today that continued aggression against Gaza could ignite a 'fire that could consume the whole region'.
Bou Habib speaking at a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, warned against sparking tensions 'that could lead to an uncontainable escalation.'
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