Indian Embassy issues travel advisory to Lebanon, advises to avoid non-essential travel
International Desk
The Indian Embassy in Lebanon has issued a fresh advisory for Indian nationals and strictly advised them to leave the country amid the tense situation in the country following the killings of top Hamas leaders in the last 48 hours. The embassy said in a social media post on Thursday that in view of the recent developments in the region and potential threats, Indian nationals are strongly advised not to travel to Lebanon until further notice. The latest alert came just hours after it issued a travel advisory asking Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to the region. At that time it had not advised Indian nationals to leave the country. Notably, this was the third travel advisory issued by the embassy within 48 hours.
Lebanese extremist group Hezbollah has confirmed the killing of its top commander Fouad Shukur in a surprise attack by Israel in Beirut on Tuesday. The Iran-backed group had earlier said that its commander Fouad Shukur was in the building during the attack and the rubble was being searched to ascertain his condition. Hezbollah made this announcement at a time when Hamas leader Ismail Haniya was also killed in an attack in Tehran at night. Hamas and Iran have blamed Israel for Haniya's death.
Israel said late Tuesday that it had killed Shukur, who is said to have been behind a weekend rocket attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights region that killed 12 young men. The US accused Shukur of plotting the 1983 bombing of a Marine Corps barracks in Lebanon that killed 241 American soldiers. At least five civilians, including two children and three women, were killed in the attack on Beirut, according to Lebanon's health ministry.
Those who are staying put for any reason are advised to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements and keep in touch with the Indian Embassy in Beirut through its email id: cons.beirut@mea.gov.in or emergency phone number +96176860128. The suspected killing by Israel of Hamas’ Haniyeh in Iran and Hezbollah’s most senior military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut a few hours earlier has raised the risk of a dangerous escalation in Israel’s Gaza war and a regional conflagration between Israel, Iran and Israel. Officials and analysts said it indicates that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is determined to change the rules of war, move beyond Gaza to directly eliminate Hamas leaders and attack Iran’s proxies.
Britain and Germany also issued travel advisory
The UK Foreign Office has also updated its travel advice, advising the country's citizens to travel with caution and “travellers should leave Lebanon”. The German government has also updated its travel advisory, urging people to leave Lebanon immediately. On Monday, the country changed its travel warning to Lebanon, saying air travel may be suspended. Canada has also warned its citizens to return home if they are in Lebanon and not to travel to Beirut.
