Several Western governments, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, are urging their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately as tensions in the Middle East escalate following the assassination of Hamas’s political chief Ismail Haniyeh, which Iran has blamed on Israel and the US. The killing of Haniyeh in Tehran came hours after the Israeli assassination of Hezbollah’s military chief Fuad Shukr in Beirut, leading to pledges of vengeance from Iran and the “axis of resistance.”
The ongoing conflict between Lebanon’s Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, and the Israeli army has intensified, with cross-border fire exchanges since the Israeli assault on Gaza began in October. This has prompted heightened fears of a regional conflagration. Following the recent assassinations, the US has announced the deployment of additional warships and fighter jets to the region and urged American citizens in Lebanon to leave. Both the UK and France have also advised their citizens in Lebanon to depart due to the risk of a military escalation.
Major airlines have grounded flights to Israel, Iran, and Lebanon, while the Canadian government has warned against travel to Israel due to the deteriorating security situation. In Lebanon, a barrage of rockets was fired into northern Israel from southern Lebanon, resulting in Israeli airstrikes in Lebanese territory. Iran has expressed expectations for Hezbollah to strike deeper inside Israel. Additionally, Israel has bombed tents housing displaced Palestinians in Gaza, leading to casualties and further worsening the crisis in the region.
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