The US has issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to stay away from Lebanon, as tensions soar along its border with Israel.
The advisory came after Germany and the Netherlands issued similar notices calling on their citizens to leave Lebanon.
“We remind US citizens to strongly reconsider travel to Lebanon,” the notice published by the US Embassy in Lebanon, read.
The advisory indicated that in particular, US citizens should avoid going to Lebanon’s south, its border with Syria and refugee settlements.
The advisory added that the Lebanese government could not ensure US citizens’ safety in the event of “sudden outbreaks of violence and armed conflict.”
Also, Canada’s military has drawn up evacuation plans to extract about 20,000 Canadians from Lebanon as tensions intensify and threats of full-scale scale fighting increase.
A Canadian news outlet reported that General Wayne Eyre, the chief of the defence staff, said that the plan relied on Canada’s allies to help facilitate the evacuation.
“We can’t do it alone. It will very much be a coalition effort, and we are tightly tied in — very tight — with our allies.”
Wayne Eyre
However, despite the plans for a possible evacuation, Eyre acknowledged that he was “very concerned” about the prospect of war between Israel and Hezbollah this summer.
He added that a military team was currently in Lebanon and coordinating with the embassy in Beirut.
Earlier this week, Foreign Affairs Minister, Melanie Joly also warned Canadians to leave Lebanon as soon as possible.
Separately, the French foreign ministry stated that France is extremely concerned by the gravity of the situation in Lebanon and calls on parties to exercise restraint.
Israel Capable Of Taking Lebanon To “Stone Age” But Prefers Diplomatic Solution
During a visit to Washington, Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant warned earlier that Israel’s military was capable of taking Lebanon “back to the Stone Age” in any war with Hezbollah.
However, he insisted his government preferred a diplomatic solution on the Israel-Lebanon border.
“We do not want war, but we are preparing for every scenario,” Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant told reporters in Washington, DC.
Gallant added, “Hezbollah understands very well that we can inflict massive damage in Lebanon if a war is launched.”
Meanwhile, United States Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin told Gallant that another war with Hezbollah could have “terrible consequences for the Middle East,” and urged a diplomatic solution.
A US official also said that Washington was engaged in “fairly intensive conversations” with Israel, Lebanon and other actors, and believed that no side sought a “major escalation.”
Palestinians living in Lebanon believe they will be targeted for attack if Israel’s cross-border conflict with Hezbollah develops into a full-blown war.
In the Shatila Palestinian refugee camp in Beirut, many said that they were not scared and would fight to support Hezbollah against Israel.
However, they also worry for their families and civilians, fearing that Israel would target densely populated residential areas – such as Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon – where tens of thousands of people live packed tightly together.
One Palestinian acknowledged that civilians – especially children, women and the elderly – could be disproportionately harmed if Israel targets Palestinians in Lebanon.
However, he claimed that most Palestinian refugees believe “their blood is the price they must pay to free Palestine.”
Despite Israel’s threats, many Palestinians do not expect a larger war on Lebanon due to the strength of Hezbollah.
They believe the group’s arsenal, which reportedly includes Iran-made guided missiles and sophisticated drones, is deterring Israel from seriously escalating the conflict.
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