Travelers Advised to Avoid Lebanon Due to Growing Tensions with Israel, U.S. Urges

The Embassy in Lebanon has issued a security alert for all U.S. citizens who are considering traveling to that country or in the process of leaving it.

An escalation of the Israel-Lebanon conflict during the weekend prompted airlines to restrict or reschedule flights due to concerns regarding imminent airstrikes.

Following the Israeli government’s decision to authorize Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his military high command to retaliate against Lebanon for Hezbollah’s deadly attack in the Golan Heights, national and international flight carriers like Middle East Airlines (MEA), Lufthansa and Air France started to cancel or reschedule their inbound and outbound operations.

Although the US agency’s last security assessment for Lebanon was carried out on Jan. 29, 2024, the embassy reminds Americans that they still advise citizens to “Reconsider Travel.“

In that travel advisory, the US government asks Americans to stay away from southern Lebanon, the border with Syria, and all refugee settlements due to “political violence, kidnapping, unexploded landmines and civil unrest.” Other major concerns include terrorism and armed conflict. 

Other Countries Issuing Warnings Against Traveling to Lebanon

So far today, 11 countries (including the US) have issued similar warnings due to the risks associated with traveling to Lebanon while the conflict is in full swing.

These countries include:

1. Denmark: All Danes must leave Lebanon when “it is still possible,” said the government on X.
2. Australia: Australians must avoid all travel to Lebanon or leave that country “when it is still possible,” says the government.
3. Ireland: Irish citizens should avoid “all travel” to Lebanon or leave that country as soon as possible.
4. Norway: This government warns its citizens about its limited capacity to provide help if they decide to travel to or stay in Lebanon. 
5. Sweden: High officials have warned Swedish citizens about the need to leave Lebanon at once. 
6. Germany: Olaf Scholz’s government has required its citizens to avoid all travel to Lebanon or leave that country at their earliest convenience.
7. France: This government has urged all its citizens to avoid all travel to Lebanon as well as Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
8. United Kingdom: UK citizens must “avoid all travel to Lebanon” and exercise extreme caution if they are in that country.
9. Netherlands:…