Several countries have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon, with the United States warning its citizens to do so by any ticket available as fears of wider conflict in the Middle East grow.
Iran has promised “severe” reprisal attacks against Israel, which it blames for the death of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday in Tehran. Israel has been silent.
His assassination came hours after Israel killed Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut.
Western officials are concerned that Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia and political movement based in Lebanon, could play a key role in such a retaliation, which could trigger a serious response from Israel.
Diplomatic efforts by the United States and other Western countries continue to try to defuse tensions in the region.
But in response to these concerns, the United States, Britain, Sweden, France, Italy, Canada and Jordan have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon as soon as possible, as more and more flights are canceled or suspended at the country’s only commercial airport in Beirut.
Some tickets were increased but there was no sign of panic or people rushing to leave the venue.
Fears of an escalation of hostilities that could engulf Lebanon were at their highest since Hezbollah began attacking Israel, a day after deadly Hamas attacks on southern Israel on October 7 in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
Most of the violence has been pushed and restricted to border areas, with both sides showing no interest in a wider conflict.
However, Hezbollah vowed to respond to Shukr’s assassination, which took place in Dahiyeh, the group’s stronghold on the southern outskirts of Beirut.
Hezbollah launched dozens of rockets at the northern Israeli town of Beit Hillel at around 12:25 a.m. local time (9:25 p.m. GMT Saturday) on Sunday.
Footage posted on social media showed Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system intercepting the rockets. No casualties were reported.
The Israeli Air Force retaliated by striking targets in southern Lebanon.
Two people were killed in a stabbing attack in the Israeli town of Holon on Sunday morning. Police said the attacker was later “neutralized”.
In a statement released Saturday, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut said those who choose to stay in Lebanon should “prepare contingency plans” and be prepared to “shelter in place for an extended period of time.”
The Pentagon said it was deploying more warships and fighter jets to the region to help defend Israel against possible attacks by Iran and its proxies, a strategy similar to the one used in April, when Iran launched more than 300 missiles and drones at Israel in retaliation for an attack on the country’s diplomatic complex in Syria. It blamed Israel for the attack.
Many people fear that Iran’s retaliation on this occasion could take a similar form. The UK said it was sending additional military personnel, consular staff and border force officers to support any evacuations.
The government urged UK nationals to leave Lebanon while commercial flights are in operation. Two British military ships are in the area and the Royal Air Force has put transport helicopters on alert.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the situation in the region “could deteriorate rapidly.” In a phone call with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Friday, Iran’s acting foreign minister, Ali Baqeri Kani, said Iran would “certainly use its legitimate and inherent right” to deal with Israel.
An Iranian state television host warned on Friday that “the world would witness extraordinary scenes”.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Israelis that “challenging days lie ahead… We have heard threats from all sides. We are prepared for any scenario”.
Tensions between Israel and Iran escalated with the killing of 12 children and teenagers in an attack on Israel’s occupied Golan Heights.
Israel blamed Hezbollah and promised “severe” retaliation, although Hezbollah denied any involvement.
Days later, Shukr, a close adviser to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike in Beirut. Four others, including two children, also lost their lives.
Hours later, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated in Iran. He had been there to attend the inauguration of Iran’s new president, Massoud Pezeshkian.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened that Israel would face “severe punishment” for the killing.
Haniyeh’s assassination dealt a blow to talks on a ceasefire and a hostage release deal in Gaza, the main hope of easing tensions along the Lebanese-Israeli border.
Source: BBC News
