Several European countries have reiterated calls for their citizens to urgently leave Lebanon as the country braces for an Israeli response to the deadly rocket attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which killed at least 12 children.
A German foreign ministry spokesperson on Monday called on Germans still in Lebanon to urgently leave. The Belgian foreign ministry also warned its citizens the security situation could deteriorate without notice and that the entire country could be affected by escalating conflict.
Other European countries, including the United Kingdom and Ireland, have said their previous warnings from late June still stand.
The attack was the deadliest to hit Israel or Israeli-controlled territory since the October 7 attack by Hamas. Israel blamed Hezbollah for the attack, and said it will “pay the price” for it. The Lebanese militant group denies it was behind the attack.
Last month, countries around the world urged citizens to leave Lebanon amid heightened tensions and daily exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah.
The Israeli security cabinet on Monday authorized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to decide on the nature and timing of the response. Lebanon’s caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib has however said he received reassurances from third countries that Israel’s response to the strike will be limited, hinting that the US and France were two of those countries.
