Lebanon

US, UK to Citizens: 'Get Out of Lebanon—Like, Now!'

🚨 US & UK citizens in Lebanon, pack up! With airlines canceling flights and rising tensions, embassies urge you to book any ticket available and leave ASAP. 🌍✈️ #TravelAdvisory #LebanonExit

The United States and the United Kingdom have issued urgent travel advisories, urging their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately. According to the U.S. embassy in Beirut, American citizens should book 'any available ticket' to leave the country as soon as possible. This advisory echoes a similar warning from UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who warned that the regional situation 'could deteriorate rapidly.' Iran has also vowed retaliation, further fueling the urgency.

The urgency isn't just for dramatic flair. The situation in Lebanon is precarious, with the potential of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah hanging in the balance. The U.S. State Department has already elevated its travel warning to Level 4, the highest level, advising Americans to leave Lebanon post-haste. Airlines are canceling flights from Beirut, making it imperative to snag any available seat.

British nationals are experiencing the same urgency. The U.K. foreign ministry has bolstered its support, deploying Border Force, consular officials, and military personnel to assist embassy staff in ensuring British citizens depart safely. This follows recent high-profile visits by British ministers to the Middle East, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.

As if the geopolitical stakes weren’t enough, iconic portraits of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Iranian Quds Force chief Qasem Soleimani loom large across billboards in Lebanon. Their symbolic presence underscores the volatile and complex tapestry of political alliances and enmities that could spiral out of control at any moment.

**Interesting Fact 1:** Did you know that Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian Quds Force chief, played a significant role in coordinating Iran's military activities across the Middle East until his death in a U.S. airstrike in 2020? His legacy continues to influence Iran's foreign policy and its relationships with groups like Hezbollah.

**Interesting Fact 2:** Hezbollah, deemed a terrorist organization by several countries, including the U.S. and the U.K., has long been a formidable force in Lebanon's political landscape. Founded in the 1980s, it has its own paramilitary wing and provides social services, making it an influential entity far beyond its militant activities.