US updates travel advice and urges travelers not to travel to Lebanon

Following the assassination of Hezbollah’s supreme commander, Fouad Shukr, in an airstrike in Beirut on Tuesday and Israel’s threat to further attack the area, the US government had to increase its travel advisory to “Level 4: Do not travel” for the entire country the next day.

According to the deskRising tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have made Lebanon a no-go country for American citizens.

The biggest concerns include “crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, unexploded landmines and the risk of armed conflict”, as well as kidnapping for ransom or political motives and possible terrorist attacks on tourist and government sites.

In some areas of Lebanon, security risks are greater, so if you find yourself in any of these places, you should leave as soon as possible.

“Be prepared to shelter in place if the situation worsens. The U.S. Embassy strongly encourages U.S. citizens already in southern Lebanon, near the border with Syria, and/or in refugee camps, to leave.” reads the advice.

And according to the latest statements from Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, the conflict is likely to escalate in the coming days.

Israel’s army “Knows how to operate and reach a certain window in a neighborhood in Beirut, he also knows how to target a certain point underground, and we also have a very strong understanding of how to operate inside on the ground,” said Halevi, suggesting more strikes were coming.

Americans who decide to travel to Lebanon or remain in the territory should develop a self-protection plan before the conflict escalates.

Such a plan should not be dependent on assistance from the US government, as its consular capacity is currently very limited.

Furthermore, American citizens should not rely on the Lebanese government for protection.

The government is encouraging citizens to find commercial flights to leave Lebanon as soon as possible. Please note that a number of airlines have suspended, rescheduled or canceled their flights to and from the country. U.S. military-assisted evacuations are not guaranteed.

Why is the security situation in Lebanon deteriorating so quickly?

The Lebanese terror group Hezbollah has been accused of launching a terrorist attack that killed 12 children on July 27 in the Golan Heights, an area occupied and administered by Israel. The group has denied responsibility for this attack.

Hezbollah has also been attacking Israel intermittently since October 8, a day after the Palestinian terror group Hamas launched one of the bloodiest attacks in history against Israel.

What should you do if you are stuck in Lebanon?

Here are some important recommendations to follow to increase your safety in Lebanon.

• Don’t stay near crowds or demonstrations for long.
• Designate one of your family members as a point of contact in case you are kidnapped.
• Stick to well-traveled routes.
• Keep your travel documents up to date and to hand.
• For a reason not stated by the U.S. government, Americans are advised not to touch unfamiliar metal objects.
• Stay permanently informed of the situation on site.
• Register at https://step.state.gov/step/ to ensure that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can help you if something happens to you.