By Oliver Towfigh Nia
BERLIN (AA) - Germany on Friday called on its nationals to leave Lebanon amid heightened tensions between Israel and Lebanese group Hezbollah.
We call on "German citizens who are currently still in Lebanon to leave Lebanon. The situation is simply very volatile and we have to expect that the situation will worsen at any time," deputy Foreign Ministry spokesman Christian Wagner told journalists in Berlin.
"We have to monitor the situation closely and prepare for all eventualities," he added.
Wagner reiterated that the Oct. 7 attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Israel had “the potential for regional destabilization.”
He said Hezbollah “may well be interested in escalation,” adding that Germany is staunch ally of Israel and has repeatedly vowed unconditional support for the Jewish state's military actions in Gaza.
Tensions have been escalating on the Israeli-Lebanese border since the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7 and Israel’s subsequent campaign of heavy airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.
Exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli army have caused deaths and injuries on both sides.