UK issues travel warning for Lebanon

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) – Britain has issued a travel warning, advising citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Lebanon due to the ongoing tension in the region.

The Foreign Office issued an update on Tuesday, urging Britons to avoid non-essential travel to the country.

In addition, it also advised against all travel south of the country, the Hermel Area, including the towns of Arsal, Ras Baalbek, Qaa, Laboue and Nahle, and Palestinian refugee camps or within 5 kilometers (3 miles) of the border with Syria.

The Palestinian Hamas group launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel early Saturday, firing a barrage of rockets and infiltrating Israel by land, air, and sea. It said the surprise attack was in response to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and increased settler violence against Palestinians.

In retaliation, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza has risen to 765, including at least 143 children and 105 women, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said early Tuesday. It said the number of wounded has risen to over 4,000.

At least 900 Israelis have been killed and over 2,600 others wounded in the fighting, according to the Israeli Health Ministry.