The logo of the American State Department. (AFP archive photo)
BEIRUT — Amid fears of wider Middle East conflict, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut issued on Saturday a new advisory for U.S. citizens in Lebanon. Due to suspended or cancelled flights and high demand, the embassy is urging travelers to secure any available flight from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, even if it doesn't align with their preferred schedule.
For those lacking funds, financial assistance via “repatriation loans” is available from the embassy.
“U.S. military-assisted evacuations of civilians from a foreign country are rare,” the embassy said in its advisory, which was also sent to U.S. citizens via email. “U.S. citizens should not rely on the U.S. government for assisted departure or evacuation in a crisis," it added.
Key actions the embassy recommended include ensuring travel documents are up-to-date, making independent departure plans, maintaining personal security measures, and keeping up on current developments.
Recently, the U.S. revised its travel advisory for Lebanon from Level three ("Reconsider Travel") to level four (“Do Not Travel”).
Several other embassies have recently adjusted their travel advisories for Lebanon. Airlines are also avoiding Lebanese airspace and canceling flights to Israel and Lebanon, as concerns grow over a possible regional war after the killing of senior members of Hezbollah and Hamas this week.