US Embassy in Beirut Urges Americans to Evacuate Lebanon
Israel has vowed to respond after a deadly July 27 rocket attack allegedly carried out by Lebanon-based Hezbollah.
The U.S. Embassy in Beirut is warning Americans to either leave Lebanon or be prepared to shelter in place as tensions rise between Hezbollah and Israel in a “complex and quickly changing situation.”
If commercial air travel becomes unavailable, anyone remaining in Lebanon should be prepared to shelter in place for an extended period of time, Ms. Bitter said.
“Finally, if your relatives are planning to visit you in Lebanon this summer, please strongly encourage them to reconsider their travel, given the difficulties that would hinder departure should conflict increase in the region,” she said.
The embassy is urging U.S. citizens in the country to leave soon and to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive alerts from the Department of State so they’ll be easier to locate in case of emergencies.
“It was their rocket and launched from an area they control. It should be universally condemned,” U.S. National Security Committee spokesperson Adrienne Watson said.
“Hezbollah started firing on Israel on October 8, claiming solidarity with Hamas, another Iranian-backed terrorist group. Our support for Israel’s security is ironclad and unwavering against all Iran-backed threats, including Hezbollah.”
The White House said the United States is also working on a diplomatic solution along the U.N.-designated “blue line” demarcation between Lebanon and Israel to end the attacks and allow citizens on both sides of the border to return to their homes safely.
Monica O’Shea contributed to this report.