US Reasserts Travel Warning to Lebanon Amid Rising Violence in Israel

13.07.2024 - 09:52 / travelpulse.com / Laurie Baratti

The United States has reaffirmed its warning against travel to Lebanon due to the escalating conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, as concerns intensify about the conflict escalating into a full-scale war.

The US embassy in Beirut issued a stern advisory for citizens to "strongly reconsider travel to Lebanon", citing the volatile security environment that "remains complex and can change quickly."

According to The National, which referred to NBC’s intel gathered from past and present defense officials, the US is repositioning some naval assets nearer to Israel and Lebanon in anticipation of the need for military-assisted evacuations of Americans if the conflict worsens.  

Additionally, an official noted that the presence of these ships aims to serve as a deterrent against further escalation.

This week has seen numerous nations urging their citizens to leave Lebanon. 

Jordan's foreign ministry advised its nationals against traveling to Lebanon via a post on the social media platform X. 

Similarly, Germany and the Netherlands have called for their citizens to exit Lebanon amid intensifying hostilities. Canada, North Macedonia and Kuwait who have already issued similar advisories due to increasing tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border.

France, a significant diplomatic player in Lebanon, expressed deep concern over the severity of the situation.

Earlier this month, the US embassy in Beirut had already cautioned American citizens to steer clear of the Lebanon-Israel border, the Lebanon-Syria border and refugee settlements. This advisory was reiterated on Thursday, urging citizens to "strongly reconsider travel to Lebanon".

In a related development, Hezbollah announced on Thursday that it launched "dozens" of rockets at a northern Israeli military base in a retaliatory action against recent Israeli airstrikes that resulted in the death of four of its fighters. The attack targeted "the main air and missile defense base of the [Israeli] northern area command," as per Hezbollah's statement.

The Israeli military confirmed that about "35 launches were identified crossing from Lebanon" with air defenses "successfully intercepting most of the launches". No injuries were reported from this incident. 

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