France Prohibits Its Citizens from Traveling to Lebanon

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised French citizens today, Friday, against traveling to Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and the Palestinian territories amid threats from Iran towards Israel, its regional adversary. This decision was made "during a crisis meeting" at a time when Iran threatened to strike Israel, which it accused of being behind an attack targeting the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1st. The minister also requested "the return of the families of diplomatic staff from Tehran," as well as a ban on official French employees carrying out missions in these countries. Iranian officials, led by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned Israel that it would "face punishment" following the attack on the Iranian consulate, which they held Israel responsible for. The attack destroyed the Iranian consulate and resulted in the deaths of 16 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard mourned seven of its members killed in the attack, including two senior officers. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on the X platform that "relatives of diplomats residing in Iran will return to France, and it has become prohibited for French civil service employees to carry out any missions in Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and the Palestinian territories."