A man in front of the arrivals terminal at Beirut's international airport. (Credit: Philippe Hage Boutros/L'Orient-Le Jour)
The U.S. and the U.K. issued urgent advisories to their nationals in Lebanon on Friday after Israeli strikes on Iran and anticipated reprisals. The United Kingdom advised against all travel to certain regions of the country unless absolutely necessary.
In a statement, the U.S. Department of State urged its citizens to "exercise increased caution" while in Lebanon, citing previous episodes of instability that led to travel disruptions and increased security risks for Americans in the region.
The advisory also recommends that American nationals enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive real-time alerts and updates and to prepare emergency plans.
Be vigilant
The British Foreign Office adopted a similar position, advising against all travel "to certain areas of Lebanon unless absolutely necessary."
As for EU countries, France urged its nationals in Middle Eastern countries to "exercise enhanced vigilance when traveling, which includes staying away from demonstrations and gatherings" and to stay "informed about the situation."
"Depending on regional context developments, cancellations and flight delays may occur. It is advisable to contact your airline prior to the flight to check its status and find a replacement solution if needed," added the French Foreign Ministry, which recommends "refraining from traveling to the following countries in the coming days: Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories and Lebanon."
The Spanish embassy in Beirut also calls its nationals to "exercise caution" in a message on X.
Governments rely on embassy reports, intelligence service assessments and local developments to assess risks and update their warnings accordingly. These advisories are often more or less severe and can influence traveler behavior, airline operations and diplomatic relations.
These warnings come as Israel attacked at least six military bases around Tehran on Friday morning, as well as residences in two ultra-secure complexes housing military commanders, in addition to several apartment buildings in Tehran. Iran plans a severe response to the Israeli attack, an Iranian security source told Reuters.
Following this, several airlines announced on Friday the cancellation of their flights to or from Rafik Hariri International Airport (RHIA). While Iraq and Jordan announced the closure of their airspaces in the aftermath, the situation remained "normal" at RHIA, the Director of Civil Aviation, Amin Jaber, told our publication.
This article was translated from L'Orient-Le Jour.
