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The US Embassy in Beirut has urged its citizens to leave Lebanon on “any available ticket” as tensions rise in the Middle East. The advice follows a similar warning from British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who said the situation could “deteriorate rapidly”.
Iran has vowed “harsh” revenge on Israel, blaming it for the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday, hours after Israel killed Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut.
There are concerns that Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah could play a major role in such retaliatory actions, sparking a serious response from Israel.
The U.S. Embassy said Saturday that those who choose to stay in Lebanon should “make contingency plans” and be prepared to remain at home “for an extended period of time.”
It said several airlines have suspended and cancelled flights and many flights are sold out, but “commercial transport options out of Lebanon remain available.”
The Pentagon said it would send more warships and fighter jets to the region to help defend Israel from possible attacks by Iran and its vassal states.
Britain said it would send additional military, consular and border control personnel to assist with the evacuations but urged British citizens to leave the country “while commercial flights are operating”.
Two British warships have arrived in the area and the Royal Air Force has also sent transport helicopters on standby.
Lamy said it was “not in anyone’s interest for this conflict to spread across the region”.
In April, Iran launched an airstrike against Israel using 170 drones, 30 cruise missiles and at least 110 ballistic missiles in retaliation for Israel’s bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria.
Many fear that Iran’s retaliation this time could take a similar form.
Iran will “undoubtedly use its inherent legal rights” to “punish” Israel, Acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani said in a phone call with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Friday.
On Friday, an Iranian state television announcer warned that “the world will witness extraordinary scenes.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Israelis that “challenging days are coming… We hear threats from all sides. We are prepared for any scenario.”
Israeli ministers went home this weekend with satellite phones in case the country’s communications infrastructure comes under attack.
Tensions between Israel and Iran initially escalated when an attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights killed 12 children and teenagers. Israel blamed Hezbollah and promised “harsh” retaliation, but Hezbollah denied involvement.
Days later, senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike in Beirut. Four others were also killed, including two children.
Hours later, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran, a major Hamas supporter. He was visiting to attend the inauguration of Iran’s new president, Massoud Pezeshkian.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who led prayers at Haniyeh’s funeral in Tehran on Thursday, had previously vowed that Israel would be “severely punished” for the killing.
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