Israel war: Amid rising cross-border tensions, US, UK advise citizens to leave Lebanon

Several Arab countries also urged their citizens to leave the country

Israel-Gaza-war-military-oblisation-bhanu Israeli military on the border with Gaza strip at Sderot and Be'eri | Bhanu Prakash Chandra

With the Israel-Lebanon border tensions escalating, the United States and British embassies in Beirut have advised their citizens to leave Lebanon. Both countries advised citizens to leave Lebanon while flights "remain available".

"We recommend that US citizens in Lebanon make appropriate arrangements to leave the country; commercial options currently remain available," a US embassy statement said.

British embassy's statement also said, "If you are currently in Lebanon, we encourage you to leave now while commercial options remain available." British nationals should exercise caution and avoid areas where demonstrations may be held, it added.

Earlier, US State Department issued a travel advisory urging its citizens not to travel to Lebanon due to the "unpredictable security situation".

Since the Hamas attack on October 7, tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border also flared up with Israel launching airstrikes in the region.

Recently, Israel evacuated around 28 settlements from the 2km stretch along the Lebanon border fearing airstrikes by Hezbollah. Hezbollah also claimed to have destroyed the Israeli surveillance cameras installed along the border.

Since the Israel-Hamas conflict, around 3,700 Gazans has died so far.

Many Arab and western countries have already encouraged their nationals to avoid travel to Lebanon. Saudi Arabia on Wednesday urged its citizens to leave Lebanon "immediately" and Kuwait also warning against travelling there.

France, Germany, Canada and Australia have also warned against travel to Lebanon.

According to AFP reports, cross border tensions have killed at least 21 people in Lebanon. 

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