Amid the high tensions in the Middle East, the US embassy in Beirut has urged its citizens to leave Lebanon on “any ticket available.” The same warning was followed by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who said the regional situation “could deteriorate rapidly”.
The embassy urged citizens to leave Lebanon
However, the government, aware of the flight suspensions and cancellations, “commercial transportation options to leave Lebanon remain available. We encourage those who wish to depart Lebanon to book any ticket available to them, even if that flight does not depart immediately or does not follow their first-choice route.” The embassy said
The UK government urged the same warning to its citizens: “Tensions are high, and the situation could deteriorate rapidly. While we are working round the clock to strengthen our consular presence in Lebanon, my message to British nationals there is clear –- leave now,” said Lammy
Sweden to relocate its embassy to Cyprus temporarily
Sweden was the first to prompt its citizens to leave Lebanon and relocated its embassy to Cyprus, shutting down its embassy in Beirut fearing an escalation of hostilities.
“The foreign ministry has instructed its staff to leave Beirut and travel to Cyprus, and the foreign ministry is planning a temporary relocation of its embassy,” Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom told Swedish Radio.
A spark fueled in the Middle East following the Haniyeh’s assassination
Israel has neither denied nor taken responsibility for Haniyeh’s death amid the soar tension in the Middle East after the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh who Iran and the Palestinian militant group allege was killed by Israel. At a funeral ceremony for Haniyeh, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, led the prayers and vowed to avenge the death of Haniyeh, saying, Israel would suffer a “harsh punishment” for the killing.
However, the US has been accused by Iran for the death of Haniyeh. The US confirmed that it neither was aware of nor was involved in Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination.
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