Israeli/Palestinian Conflict: Germany, UK, US, Others Order Citizens To Leave Lebanon

As the Israeli/Palestinian rages on, Germany, the United States, United Kingdom and a number of other European countries have ordered their citizens to leave Lebanon with immediate effect. 

In a statement, Germany's Foreign Office asked German citizens to leave Lebanon without delay, warning that border clashes between Israel and Lebanon can escalate further at any time.”

The statement also advised its nationals to “use existing commercial travel options to leave the country safely.”

Britain, on the other side, directed British citizens, still in Lebanon, to leave the country while commercial options are still available.

The embassy statement which advised Britons to tread with caution, reads:

“If you are currently in Lebanon, we encourage you to leave now while commercial options remain available."

In a statement, the US embassy in Beirut directed American citizens to make arrangements to leave Lebanon, noting that commercial transportation remains available for them to do so without any further delay. 

“We recommend that United States citizens in Lebanon make appropriate arrangements to leave the country; commercial options currently remain available."

The US embassy notice was further strengthened Thursday by a State Department statement, widely considered as rare, which ordered a “worldwide caution” advisory for US citizens across the world, urging them to be aware of what it called “increased tensions in various locations around the world.”

The statement cited terrorism and the potential for anti-American demonstrations as potential red flags they should look out for. 

Cross border skirmishes between Israeli forces, Hezbollah and other pro Hamas factions have been on the rise since the commencement of the ongoing Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Over 20 people, mostly civilians, three from the Israeli side, have been killed in the clash.