Italy, Belgium urge nationals to leave Lebanon

​​​​​​​By Melike Pala and Baris Seckin

ROME/ANKARA (AA) - Italy and Belgium on Wednesday advised their nationals in Lebanon to leave the country amid escalating security concerns in the region.

Speaking at the European People's Party (EPP) meeting in Naples, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said: "We have always advised Italians working in Lebanon to leave as soon as possible. There are still flights from Beirut to the West, so we recommend they leave now."

He noted that about 300 Italians are in Lebanon for work, while 3,000 are dual nationals.

Tajani noted that 1,000 Italian soldiers are part of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon mission, and efforts are being made to ensure their safety.

Belgium's Foreign Ministry also urged its citizens to leave Lebanon "as soon as possible."

The ministry warned that the security situation "could worsen further," according to Belgium's official agency, Belga.

An estimated 1,800 Belgians are believed to reside in Lebanon.

Regional tensions have escalated amid Israel’s deadly airstrikes on Lebanon since early Monday that has killed nearly 610 victims and injured more than 2,000, according to Lebanese health authorities.

The Lebanese group, Hezbollah, and Israel have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the start of the Israeli onslaught against the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 41,400 victims, mostly women and children, following a cross-border attack by Hamas last Oct. 7.

The international community has warned against the strikes on Lebanon, as they raise the specter of spreading the Gaza conflict regionally.