The U.S. Embassy in Beirut issued a statement last night, recommending that its citizens leave Lebanon immediately, following recent developments in Gaza and along the southern Lebanese border. The embassy stated: "The Department of State advises U.S. citizens in Lebanon to depart immediately while commercial flight options are still available, due to the unpredictable security situation. Please review available flight options at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport."
The statement added: "You should have a crisis action plan that does not rely on U.S. government assistance. The best time to leave a country is before a crisis, if possible, and it is rare for the United States to evacuate civilians with military assistance from a foreign country. There is no guarantee that the U.S. government will evacuate American citizens and their families in times of crisis."
The statement continued: "In the event of a military-assisted evacuation, our focus will be on assisting American citizens. The U.S. government generally cannot provide transportation within the country during crises. This includes transport to departure points. You will not be able to bring your pets with you in any military-assisted evacuation from Lebanon."
