Tensions in the Region; Saudi Arabia Also Urges Its Citizens to Leave Lebanon 'Quickly'

As tensions continue between Hezbollah and Israel, Saudi Arabia has joined the ranks of countries urging their citizens not to travel to Lebanon or to leave the country as soon as possible while commercial flights are still available. According to the Saudi newspaper 'Saudi Gazette', the Saudi embassy in Lebanon stated that it is closely monitoring developments in southern Lebanon and reiterates its previous request for all Saudi citizens to adhere to the travel ban to Lebanon. The embassy has urged Saudi citizens currently in Lebanon to leave the country quickly. Previously, other countries including Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Kuwait, and Sweden had also asked their citizens to leave Lebanon due to the current situation. The US embassy in Beirut also issued a notice on Thursday, July 7, advising citizens to reconsider travel to Lebanon. The US embassy in Beirut stated that the Lebanese government cannot guarantee the protection of US citizens against the sudden escalation of violence and armed conflict, and American citizens in Lebanon should not travel to the southern part of the country, the border region with Syria, or refugee camps. Meanwhile, there have been no reports of the Islamic Republic of Iran issuing a similar warning to Iranian citizens. The Islamic Republic is itself the main financial and military supporter of Hezbollah. Following Hamas's sudden attack on southern Israel on October 7, Hezbollah opened a new front against Israel in the north of the country, raising concerns about the escalation of war. Yoav Galant, Israel's Defense Minister, warned last Wednesday during a visit to the US that his country's army is capable of returning Lebanon to the 'Stone Age' in any war with Hezbollah militants, but emphasized that the Netanyahu government prefers a diplomatic solution at the Israel-Lebanon border.