The US embassy in Lebanon urged citizens to book “any available tickets”. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said his message to UK citizens was “leave now”.
The risk of war spreading across the Middle East
The region is on high alert after Iran vowed revenge against Israel, which it blamed for the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in the capital Tehran earlier this week.
The scene of a rocket fired from Lebanon towards the Israeli village of Metullah on Saturday. Photo: AFP
Haniyeh's death came just hours after an Israeli airstrike on the Lebanese capital Beirut killed Hezbollah's top military commander, Fu'ad Shukr.
The developments have raised concerns that Israel's war in Gaza, now in its ninth month, could spill over into a full-blown conflict in the Middle East.
It is believed that Lebanon-based Hezbollah could play a prominent role in any such retaliation. The militant group has been involved in daily skirmishes with Israel.
On Saturday night, Hezbollah fired 30 rockets towards Israel, most of which were intercepted by Israel thanks to its famous Iron Dome defense system.
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Israel's Iron Dome air defense system fired to intercept an attack from Lebanon into the Galilee region early Sunday morning. (AP Video/Leo Correa)
In a statement from the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs on Sunday, France also asked its citizens to arrange to leave Lebanon “as soon as possible.” Meanwhile, Turkey has announced that it is calling on those who do not need to stay in Lebanon to leave while commercial flights are still operating.
Jordan has issued a similar warning to its citizens, having participated in the downing of an Iranian drone during Iran’s unprecedented retaliatory strikes on Israel in April.
Iran's state news agency (IRNA) reported that Jordan's foreign minister will make a rare visit to the Iranian capital Tehran on Sunday to "meet and exchange views with Iranian officials on bilateral, regional and international issues".
The killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has sparked outrage in several Middle Eastern countries. Photo: PA
Airlines including Air France, Lufthansa and Kuwaiti Airlines have cancelled flights to and from Lebanon while others have diverted flights out of the country.
US sends more troops, Israel prepares bomb shelters
In a further sign that the region is preparing for Iranian retaliation, the US sent an aircraft carrier strike group, a squadron of fighter jets and additional warships to the Middle East on Saturday.
It is perhaps the biggest move by US forces to the region since the early days of the Gaza war, when the Pentagon sent two aircraft carrier strike groups to the Middle East in a very public warning to militant groups in the region not to expand the fighting.
The US is sending more troops and military equipment to the Middle East as tensions escalate. Photo: Reuters
White House deputy national security adviser Jon Finer said on Sunday that the US and Israel are preparing for “all possibilities” after the Pentagon sent additional military assets.
“We and our Israeli allies are preparing for every possibility… All of those posture adjustments are to prepare for a potential response against Israel from Iran or any other adversary,” Finer told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union.”
In another development that shows the situation is very serious, Israelis have stockpiled necessities to prepare for having to take shelter for many days.
A document from the Jerusalem municipality also advised residents to “clear and prepare bomb shelters,” warning that they must be able to reach the shelter within 90 seconds.
Huy Hoang (according to CNN, Reuters, AP)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/trung-dong-cang-nhu-day-dan-cac-nuoc-keu-goi-cong-dan-roi-lebanon-my-dieu-them-quan-post306340.html
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