US urges citizens to leave Lebanon on ‘any available ticket’
The US embassy in Beirut has urged its citizens to leave Lebanon “on any ticket available,” amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
This advisory follows a similar warning from UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who stated that the regional situation “could deteriorate rapidly.”
Iran has vowed “severe” retaliation against Israel, blaming it for the death of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday. His assassination occurred just hours after Israel killed Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut.
There are fears that Lebanon-based Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group, could play a significant role in any retaliation, potentially provoking a serious response from Israel.
Hezbollah launched dozens of rockets at the town of Beit Hillel in northern Israel at around 00:25 local time on Sunday (22:25 BST Saturday).
Footage on social media showed Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system intercepting the rockets. There have been no reports of casualties.
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry has also advised its citizens in Lebanon to leave immediately and warned others not to travel there.
Canada has warned its nationals to avoid travel to Israel, in addition to existing advice against going to Lebanon, citing the potential for the situation to “deteriorate further without warning.”
The US embassy stated on Saturday that those choosing to stay in Lebanon should “prepare contingency plans” and be ready to “shelter in place for an extended period.”
It noted that several airlines have suspended and canceled flights, with many sold out, but “commercial transportation options to leave Lebanon remain available.”
The Pentagon announced it is deploying additional warships and fighter jets to the region to help defend Israel from potential attacks by Iran and its proxies.
The UK said it is sending extra military personnel, consular staff, and border force officials to assist with any evacuations but urged UK citizens to leave Lebanon “while commercial flights are running.”
Two British military ships are already in the region, and the Royal Air Force has transport helicopters on standby.
Mr. Lammy said it was “in no one’s interest for this conflict to spread across the region”.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, at least 17 people in a school sheltering displaced persons were killed by an Israeli strike, the Hamas-run authorities said on Saturday.
The Israeli military says the Hamama school in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood was being used as a command center for militants. Hamas has denied it operates from civilian facilities.
Israeli ministers were sent home this weekend with satellite phones in case of an attack on the country’s communication infrastructure.
In April, Iran launched an air attack on Israel using 170 drones, 30 cruise missiles, and at least 110 ballistic missiles.
That was in retaliation for the Israeli bombing of an Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria.
Many fear Iran’s retaliation on this occasion could take a similar form.
In a phone call with EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell on Friday, Iran’s Acting Foreign Minister Ali Baqeri Kani said Iran would “undoubtedly use its inherent and legitimate right” to “punish” Israel.
On Friday, an announcer on Iran’s state TV warned: “The world would witness extraordinary scenes”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israelis that “challenging days lie ahead… We have heard threats from all sides. We are prepared for any scenario”.
Tensions between Israel and Iran initially escalated with the killing of 12 children and teenagers in a strike on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Israel accused Hezbollah and vowed “severe” retaliation, though Hezbollah denied it was involved.
Days later, senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was killed in a targeted Israeli air strike in Beirut. Four others, including two children, were also killed.
Hours after that, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran, Hamas’s main backer. He was visiting to attend the inauguration of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.
At a funeral ceremony for Haniyeh in Tehran on Thursday, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, led the prayers. He had earlier vowed that Israel would suffer a “harsh punishment” for the killing.
