Israel’s ground incursion into southern Lebanon has sparked fears of an all-out war in the Middle East, prompting several countries to announce plans to evacuate their citizens from the conflict zone. Recent missile attacks by Iran on Israel have intensified concerns of a wider conflict.
The Israeli military has ordered more evacuations in Beirut as they engage in battles with Hezbollah fighters. Nearly a million people have been displaced and over 1,000 Lebanese have been killed since Israel escalated its attacks last month.
Various countries, including the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Germany, and Italy, have issued travel advisories and are arranging for their citizens to leave Lebanon. The US Embassy in Beirut has issued a Level 4 travel advisory, the highest level, urging Americans not to travel to the country.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy have advised their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately. Both countries are offering assistance and chartering flights for the evacuation.
France, with an estimated 20,000 citizens in Lebanon, is sending a helicopter carrier for potential evacuations. Canada, with up to 75,000 Canadians in Lebanon, is augmenting commercial flights for evacuation. Germany has begun evacuating non-essential personnel, while Italy is urging its citizens to leave due to the ongoing fighting.
The escalating conflict has led to a surge in efforts to ensure the safety of foreign nationals in Lebanon, as tensions continue to rise in the region.
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