Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike in Marjayoun, near the Lebanon-Israel border. Image Credit: AFP
Washington: The US State Department on Saturday ordered the families of embassy personnel in Beirut to leave the country and authorized the departure of some staff, as the Israel-Hezbollah conflict escalates.
The department ordered the departure “due to the increased volatility following airstrikes within Beirut and the volatile and unpredictable security situation throughout Lebanon,” it said.
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The US State Department also urged Americans in Lebanon to leave the country as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah flares.
All US citizens were urged to leave “while commercial options still remain available.”
Germany said it would withdraw diplomats’ families and reduce staffing at its missions in Israel, Lebanon and the West Bank after the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah by Israel.
In a statement the foreign ministry said its crisis cell had met on Saturday to discuss “the highly tense situation in Lebanon and the wider region after the latest attacks” and had