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France has urged its citizens in Lebanon to leave the country “as soon as possible” due to escalating tensions and fears of a potential war between Israel and Hezbollah, which could lead to a broader regional conflict.
“In a highly volatile security context, we once again call the attention of French nationals, particularly those passing through, to the fact that direct commercial flights and ones with stopovers to France are still available. We invite them to make their arrangements now to leave Lebanon as soon as possible,” the foreign ministry stated in its travel advisory for Lebanon.
This advisory follows similar recommendations from Washington and London, issued on Saturday. France estimates that around 23,000 of its citizens live in Lebanon, with an additional 10,000 visiting the country last month.
Sweden has also closed its embassy in Beirut and urged its nationals to leave.
On Thursday, the French foreign ministry updated its information sheet, noting the continued availability of commercial flights to France but stopped short of advising nationals to leave Lebanon. However, the updated advisory on Sunday emphasized the urgency of the situation, advising French citizens against traveling to Lebanon and stressing the importance of leaving the country promptly.
The heightened alert comes in response to threats from Iran and its allies to retaliate for the assassination of Hamas’ political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, which has been blamed on Israel. Tehran, Hamas, and the Lebanese-based, Iranian-backed Hezbollah have all accused Israel of the assassination.
Haniyeh’s death followed the killing of Hezbollah military chief Fouad Shukur near Beirut, an attack claimed by Israel.
On Saturday, Hezbollah launched dozens of Katyusha rockets at Israel, citing Israeli attacks on civilians in southern Lebanon as the provocation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel is at “a very high level” of preparedness for any scenario, both “defensive and offensive.”
