Seven Countries Urge Citizens to Leave Lebanon

Amid growing concerns over a potential all-out war between the Iran-backed group Hezbollah and Israel, seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, have called on their citizens to leave Lebanon. Additionally, five other countries have issued travel advisories to their nationals.

According to a report by Turkey's state news agency Anadolu on Saturday, June 29, the Saudi embassy in Beirut issued a notice on Friday, June 28, urging its citizens to leave Lebanese territory. The embassy also instructed citizens to maintain contact with the embassy in case of any emergencies.

The report states that, in addition to Saudi Arabia, the governments of Canada, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, and Kuwait have issued separate statements instructing their nationals to leave Lebanon immediately.

Meanwhile, the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Ireland, and Jordan have issued travel advisories for their citizens regarding travel to Lebanon.

Since the beginning of the attacks on Gaza, Hezbollah has been launching rocket and drone attacks on regions near the Israeli border as a form of protest. In response, Israel has been conducting counter-attacks in Lebanon against the Iran-supported militant group.

Since October, over 350 Hezbollah members have been killed. To counter Hezbollah's attacks, Israel has been relocating its troops along the Lebanon border.

In this context, Iran's mission to the United Nations has warned that if attacks in Lebanon continue, a war aimed at Israel's destruction will ensue. Iran cautioned that if Lebanon is attacked, all of Iran's resistance forces and allies will confront Israel.

In response to Iran's threats, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz stated on Saturday that the government issuing destruction threats will itself face destruction