Austria Urges Citizens to Leave Lebanon

The Austrian Foreign Ministry has issued an urgent call for its citizens to leave Lebanon due to escalating security risks.

In a statement released on Monday, the ministry reiterated its travel warning for Lebanon, initially issued in October 2023, which remains in effect.

The advisory comes in response to heightened tensions and significant attacks following the assassination of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

The subsequent threats of retaliation have raised concerns about the potential outbreak of a regional war.

The ministry's statement highlighted that the initial travel warning was prompted by the military clashes between Israel and Hezbollah that erupted after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7.

Given the volatile situation, Austrian nationals in Lebanon are strongly advised to leave the country as soon as possible.