UPDATES WITH IRELAND WARNING
By Ahmed Asmar
ANKARA (AA) – The United States, Russia and Ireland were the latest countries to recommend against travel to Lebanon on Thursday amid fears of a possible war between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.
In a statement, the US Embassy in Beirut asked its nationals to strongly reconsider travel to Lebanon, and for those in the country to take precautionary measures, including avoiding travel to southern Lebanon and the border areas with Syria.
The embassy said the Lebanese government can’t guarantee the protection of US citizens against sudden outbreaks of violence and armed conflict.
The Russian Embassy in Beirut also recommended its citizens in Lebanon to refrain from traveling to the Arab country.
Russian Ambassador Alexander Rudakov, in an interview with Rossiya 24 channel, asked his country's citizens to wait until the situation in Lebanon calms down.
The Irish Foreign Ministry also advised against all travel to certain areas of Lebanon and urged Irish citizens currently in the country to exercise extreme caution.
"The security situation in Lebanon can deteriorate quickly,” the ministry said in a statement. “There is a heightened risk of violence, including clashes between armed groups and the Lebanese Armed Forces."
The UK also on Wednesday strongly advised its citizens against all travel to Lebanon.
“FCDO advises against all travel to Lebanon due to risks associated with the conflict between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories,” the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said in a statement.
A similar warning against travel to Lebanon was made by Switzerland and Australia.
Kuwait was the first country to ask its nationals in Lebanon on Friday to avoid travel to Lebanon and those inside the country to leave as soon as possible “in view of the security situation taking place in the region."
Germany, Netherlands, Canada and North Macedonia have also urged their citizens to leave the country amid a growing risk of a full-blown war in Lebanon.
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 37,700 people since October following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.