US, UK, France Urge Citizens to Exit Lebanon Amid Escalating Conflict
Western governments, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately as Middle Eastern tensions escalate following the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh, an act Iran blames on Israel and the US.
Haniyeh was killed in Tehran on Wednesday, hours after the assassination of Hezbollah’s military chief Fuad Shukr in Beirut by Israel. These killings have prompted vows of retaliation from Iran and its allies, heightening fears of a broader regional conflict.
Hezbollah and the Israeli army have been exchanging cross-border fire since October, following Hamas’s rare attack on Israeli territory, which resulted in 1,139 deaths and around 240 captives. Iran-backed groups from Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria have become involved in Israel’s nearly 10-month war on Gaza. The recent assassinations have intensified concerns of wider hostilities.
On Saturday, the US announced the deployment of additional warships and fighter jets to the region, advising its citizens in Lebanon to leave on “any available ticket.” The US embassy in Beirut urged nationals to “prepare contingency plans” if they choose to stay and be ready to “shelter in place for an extended period.”
The UK’s Foreign Office similarly advised its citizens to leave Lebanon “now while commercial options remain available.” British Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized the urgency, stating, “Tensions are high, and the situation could deteriorate rapidly.”
On Sunday, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs issued a travel advisory, recommending its citizens leave Lebanon “as soon as possible” due to the risk of military escalation. The ministry highlighted that direct and connecting flights to France are still available.
