The German Foreign Office in Berlin on Thursday called on Germans in Lebanon to leave the country due to the tense situation on the border between Israel and Lebanon.

A further escalation could also lead to air traffic from Rafic Hariri Airport in Beirut being completely suspended, according to new travel and security advice posted by the ministry on X.

“It would then no longer be possible to leave Lebanon by air.’’

The security situation in the region is highly volatile; the military clashes in the border area between Lebanon and Israel have increased in intensity in recent weeks.

“After the Palestinian Hamas launched a major attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Hezbollah and other armed groups have also been firing mortar shells, anti-tank weapons and rockets at Israel from Lebanese territory since October 8, 2023.

“Accordingly, a further escalation of the situation and expansion of the conflict cannot be ruled out. This applies in particular to the southern parts of Lebanon up to and including the southern urban areas of Beirut and the Bekaa Plain, including the Baalbek-Hermel district,” the travel and security advice stated.

The Foreign Office had already called on German citizens and their relatives to leave the country a few days after the Hamas attack on Israel prompted the Gaza war in October.

 (dpa/NAN)