Berlin has recently issued a warning to German citizens, urging them to leave Lebanon due to the escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. The German Foreign Ministry made the announcement on social media, stating that the current situation at the border between Israel and Lebanon is very tense. The warning comes in the wake of daily exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants since Hamas triggered the current Gaza conflict with its October 7 attacks.
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The conflict has raised fears of a wider regional war, with the US and Germany cautioning against the consequences of the expansion of war. Turkey has also expressed its support for Lebanon, accusing Israel of planning to spread the war to the region. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on other countries in the region to stand in solidarity with Lebanon. The German Foreign Minister has warned of the danger of Israel and Lebanon slipping into a war, stating that through the daily escalation, where more rockets are flying, large parts on both sides do not want this war, but we are slipping into it.
The US Secretary of Defense has also warned that another war between Israel and Hezbollah could easily become a regional war, with terrible consequences for the Middle East. The conflict has already had a significant impact on Lebanon, with a decrease in inbound visitors in the first quarter of this year, mainly due to fewer Europeans and North Americans visiting. The Swiss Embassy in Lebanon and Syria has also advised against travel to Lebanon, stating that it has now become generally inadvisable. The situation remains tense, with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah stating that the group will not stop its attacks until a ceasefire is reached in Gaza, where more than 37,700 Palestinians have been killed.
In response to the escalating tensions, several countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, North Macedonia, and Kuwait, have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon. The German Foreign Ministry has requested its citizens to register on the ELEFAND crisis preparedness list and to leave the country as soon as possible. The situation in Lebanon remains volatile, and it is essential for German citizens to heed the warnings and leave the country to ensure their safety.