Saudi Arabia Urges Citizens to Leave Lebanon amid Armed Conflicts
August 4 (Reuters) – The Saudi embassy in Lebanon has issued a statement urging Saudi citizens to quickly leave Lebanese territory and to avoid approaching areas where armed conflicts are taking place. This warning comes as tensions rise in the region.
The statement posted late on Friday on X, formerly known as Twitter, did not specify which areas in Lebanon are advised to be avoided. However, the embassy emphasized “the importance of adhering to the Saudi travel ban to Lebanon.” This travel ban has been put in place to ensure the safety and well-being of Saudi citizens.
It is worth noting that the United Kingdom also recently updated its travel advice for Lebanon. The UK advises against “all but essential travel” to parts of Lebanon’s south, particularly near the Palestinian camp of Ain el-Hilweh. This area has been identified as a potential conflict zone.
Security sources in the camp have reported that at least 13 people, mainly militants, were killed in fighting that broke out on July 29 between the mainstream faction Fatah and hardline Islamists. The situation in Ain el-Hilweh remains volatile and unpredictable.
Ain el-Hilweh is the largest of the 12 Palestinian camps in Lebanon and hosts approximately 80,000 Palestinian refugees, out of the total of up to 250,000 refugees in the country, according to the United Nations’ agency for refugees from Palestine.
It is crucial for Saudi citizens to heed the warning and take the necessary precautions as tensions continue to escalate in Lebanon. Safety should be the top priority, and citizens are advised to closely follow any updates or instructions from authorities.
(This story has been corrected to say ‘in Lebanon’ instead of ‘other than Lebanon’ in paragraph 2)
Reporting by Yomna Ehab and Enas Alashray; editing by Jonathan Oatis and David Gregorio
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