Saudi Arabia urges citizens to leave Lebanon immediately

By Anadolu staff

BEIRUT (AA) - Saudi Arabia urged its citizens Saturday to immediately leave Lebanese territory due to the ongoing developments on its borders with Israel.

The Saudi Embassy in Beirut said in a statement that “it is closely monitoring the current events in southern Lebanon and reiterated its previous call on October 18, 2023, for all Saudi citizens to adhere to the travel ban to Lebanon,” according to the Saudi Press Agency.

It urged citizens currently in Lebanon "to depart the Lebanese territory immediately” and emphasized the necessity for them “to stay in touch with the embassy in case of any emergencies.”

Countries such as Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and North Macedonia have also requested their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately due to the potential escalation on the border with Israel.

Meanwhile, the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Ireland, and Jordan have advised all their citizens to refrain from visiting Lebanon at this time.

Tensions have risen along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israeli forces as Tel Aviv pressed ahead with its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 37,800 people since October following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala