Netherlands asks its citizens to leave Lebanon over rising regional tensions

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - The Dutch government on Wednesday issued an advisory asking its citizens to leave Lebanon due to the risk of further escalation of conflict in the region.

On X, the Foreign Ministry urged Dutch citizens to avoid travel to Lebanon and those who live there to leave as commercial flights are still operating.

Mentioning how the current travel warning to the Mideast country is "red," it stressed the situation there remains very "unpredictable."

The Dutch Embassy may not be able to help its citizens if they get into trouble, it cautioned.

Tensions have risen along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israeli forces.

Many have expressed fear over a heated conflict with Lebanon as Tel Aviv presses ahead with its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 37,700 people since last October, following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.