NEW YORK (VINnews) — The U.S. Embassy in Beirut issued a new warning to its citizens in Lebanon on Saturday, urging them to take any available flight out of Beirut.
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Despite the suspension and cancelation of flights to Beirut, “commercial transportation options to leave Lebanon remain available,” the embassy said in a statement. “We encourage those wishing to leave Lebanon to book any available ticket, even if that flight does not depart immediately or does not follow the itinerary of their choice,” it added. For those who cannot afford to pay, the embassy is offering financial assistance in the form of “repatriation loans.”
The US advice follows a similar warning from UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who said that the regional situation “could deteriorate rapidly”.
Iran has vowed “severe” retaliation against Israel, which it blames for the death of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday. His assassination came hours after Israel killed Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut.
It is feared that Lebanon-based terrorist group Hezbollah, a proxy of Iran, could play a heavy role in retaliation, which in-turn could spark a serious Israeli response.
The US embassy stated on Saturday that those who choose to stay in Lebanon should “prepare contingency plans” and be prepared to “shelter in place for an extended period of time”.
It said that several airlines have suspended and cancelled flights, and many have sold out, but “commercial transportation options to leave Lebanon remain available”.
The Pentagon said it was deploying additional warships and fighter jets to the region to help defend Israel from possible attacks by Iran and its proxies.
In April, Iran launched an air attack on Israel using 170 drones, 30 cruise missiles and at least 110 ballistic missiles. That was in retaliation for the Israeli bombing of an Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria.
Many fear Iran’s retaliation on this occasion could take a similar form. Iran’s mission to the United Nations told CBS News in an exclusive on Friday that Hezbollah would begin deliberately targeting Israeli civilians – claiming that it had not done so until now.
“Until now, Hezbollah and the regime have, in an unwritten understanding, practically adhered to certain limits in their military operations, meaning that confining their actions to border areas and shallow zones, targeting primarily military objectives,” a spokesperson from the delegation told CBS News. “However, the regime’s attack on Dahieh in Beirut and the targeting of a residential building marked a deviation from these boundaries. We anticipate that, in its response, Hezbollah will choose both broader and deeper targets, and will not restrict itself solely to military targets and means.”
In a phone call with EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell on Friday, Iran’s Acting Foreign Minister Ali Baqeri Kani said Iran would “undoubtedly use its inherent and legitimate right” to “punish” Israel.
On Friday, an announcer on Iran’s state TV warned “the world would witness extraordinary scenes”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israelis that “challenging days lie ahead… We have heard threats from all sides. We are prepared for any scenario”.
Israeli ministers were sent home this weekend with satellite phones in case of an attack on the country’s communication infrastructure.
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