The US has ordered the evacuation of some of its staff from the embassy in Beirut due to escalating tensions

USA updated this Saturday the travel advisory he maintains Lebanon -from level four: do not travel– and so he ordered the opening evacuation from your staff Embassy in Beirut. The Foreign Office issued a statement announcing that diplomatic headquarters officials – whether on missions or not – and non-essential staff were authorized to request departure, with all staff “prohibited from traveling for personal reasons”. without prior permission,” it follows escalation of tension in the country.

The letter also calls on American citizens in Lebanon to leave the territory “while commercial possibilities are still available” because at the moment “there are commercial flights with reduced capacity”, but “if the security situation worsens, it is possible that commercial departure options will not be available”.

“The Embassy of the United States strongly advises American citizens who are in southern Lebanon, near the border with Syria and/or in refugee settlementsthat they will leave these areas immediately,” the text reads.

In this sense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that it is possible that if the conflict escalates, the consulate “can’t help US citizens who choose to stay in Lebanon”while “consular officers at the United States Embassy cannot always travel to assist them”, given the risks this also entails.

Therefore, he pointed out that whoever decides to do so must do so at your own risk and with proper preparation to make it possible resort draw attention to it if necessary “Availability of hospital beds has been reduced”there is a “less access to doctors” and “a” is indicated. general restrictions on routine care in healthcare facilities”.

Meanwhile, Washington has asked for travel cancellations for its citizens with travel plans to the country “due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnappings, unexploded mines and the risk of armed conflict.”

Just a week ago, the Joe Biden administration raised the alert category for Beirut after considering that the situation there had become “subtle and dangerous” and required “a state of constant vigilance and complete preparation.” However, Israel’s offensive in recent days – which culminated this Friday and Saturday with heavy bombardment in areas of the capital, Hassan Nasrallahhead Hezbollahamong other things – accelerated the scenario and left countries on the brink of a larger-scale conflict.

In the past 24 hours, the border has become the hottest zone of war, with enemy missiles traversing the airspace, emergency sirens blaring constantly and some damage caused by projectile debris falling in the state. It is estimated that there are already more than 90 threats detected between Tel Aviv and west bank, although no injuries or deaths were reported.

At the same time, the defense forces attacked at least some of them 140 weapons factories terrorist formations, including “a facility used to manufacture and assemble rocket launchers and rocket launchers in southern Lebanon, as well as another site in the Beqaa Valley that was intended to support Hezbollah’s force build-up efforts,” it said.

Faced with this “dramatic escalation” the Secretary General United NationsAntonio Guterres said he was “deeply concerned” and called for it stopping the “cycle of violence” immediately.

(With information from Europa Press)