Amid growing tensions in the Middle East and risk of attacks by Israel, Armenia’s foreign ministry called on its citizens to temporarily refrain from traveling to Lebanon.
In a statement released over the weekend, the foreign ministry also urged Armenian citizens who are already in Lebanon to use “maximum caution” and follow official reports and instructions both from the Lebanese authorities and the Armenian foreign ministry.
“Expressing hope that peace and stability will be preserved in friendly Lebanon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia calls on Armenian citizens to temporarily refrain from visiting Lebanon unless there is an urgent need,” the foreign ministry said in its statement that was posted on its official Facebook page.
“At the same time, the Ministry urges Armenian citizens currently residing in Lebanon to exercise maximum caution, avoid visiting regions targeted in recent days, and follow the official reports and warnings of the Lebanese authorities,” the foreign ministry added.
The foreign ministry also urged Armenian citizens to contact the Armenian Embassy in Beirut should situations arise.
Several airlines have canceled flights to and from Lebanon, with local and international media reporting that thousands of Lebanese citizens are flocking to the Beirut’s Rafik al-Hariri International Airport in hopes of leaving the country.
The situation comes as the Lebanon-based Hezbollah and the Israeli Defense Army have traded fire in recent days, especially after the assassination of a Hamas leader in Iran last week.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned his G-7 colleagues that Hezbollah will attack Israel within days.
