US embassy urges citizens to leave Lebanon on "any ticket available"

Beirut, Lebanon - The US embassy in Lebanon urged American citizens Saturday to leave the country on "any ticket available," amid fears of all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah and a broader regional conflict.

The US Embassy in Beirut is urging American citizens to leave Lebanon.
The US Embassy in Beirut is urging American citizens to leave Lebanon.  © 123RF/leoaltman

Despite flight suspensions and cancellations, "commercial transportation options to leave Lebanon remain available," the embassy statement said.

"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."

The announcement comes as Lebanon's Hezbollah movement has traded near-daily fire with Israeli forces since the Gaza assault broke out in October.

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Israeli forces have kept bombarding the Gaza Strip with no end in sight to the nearly 10-month siege, which has sparked mounting accusations of genocide and war crimes.

Regional tensions have skyrocketed after Israel was accused of killing Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday, just hours after the Israeli assassination of Hezbollah's military chief in a strike in Beirut.

Other countries, including the UK, France, Canada, and Jordan, have joined the US in issuing calls for their citizens to leave Lebanon, while several Western airlines have suspended flights to the region.

On Sunday, Qatar Airways said that "in light of recent developments in Lebanon," the Doha-Beirut route "will operate exclusively during daylight hours" at least until Monday.

Cover photo: 123RF/leoaltman

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