Saudi Arabia Urges Citizens to Leave Lebanon Amidst Armed Conflicts
Aug 4 (Reuters) – The Saudi embassy in Lebanon has issued a statement urging Saudi citizens to quickly leave Lebanese territory and to avoid approaching areas experiencing armed conflicts. The statement, posted late on Friday on X, formerly known as Twitter, did not specify which areas in Lebanon the citizens should avoid.
The embassy emphasized “the importance of adhering to the Saudi travel ban to Lebanon,” according to the statement. This comes after the United Kingdom updated its travel advice for Lebanon on Aug. 1, advising against “all but essential travel” to parts of Lebanon’s south near the Palestinian camp of Ain el-Hilweh.
The recent fighting in Ain el-Hilweh, which broke out on July 29 between mainstream faction Fatah and hardline Islamists, resulted in the death of at least 13 people, mostly militants, according to security sources in the camp. Ain el-Hilweh is the largest of the 12 Palestinian camps in Lebanon and is home to approximately 80,000 Palestinian refugees, out of the 250,000 refugees in the country, as reported by the United Nations’ agency for refugees from Palestine.
The situation in Lebanon remains tense, and the Saudi embassy’s advisory aims to ensure the safety of its citizens amidst the ongoing armed conflicts. The embassy’s statement serves as a reminder for Saudi citizens to comply with the travel ban and take necessary precautions to protect themselves.
How can Saudi citizens ensure their safety and abide by the travel ban amidst the volatile situation in Lebanon
Saudi Arabia Urges Citizens to Leave Lebanon Amidst Ongoing Armed Conflicts
In light of the recent armed conflicts in Lebanon, the Saudi embassy has issued an urgent statement urging its citizens to swiftly depart from Lebanese territory. The statement, shared on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, highlighted the need for Saudi citizens to avoid areas experiencing violence, although it did not explicitly specify which locations.
The embassy emphasized the significance of adhering to the Saudi travel ban to Lebanon. This advisory follows the updated travel advice from the United Kingdom on August 1, which advised against “all but essential travel” to certain parts of Lebanon’s south in close proximity to the Palestinian camp of Ain el-Hilweh.
Armed clashes that erupted on July 29 between mainstream faction Fatah and hardline Islamists in Ain el-Hilweh resulted in the deaths of at least 13 individuals, primarily militants, according to security sources. Ain el-Hilweh is the largest among the 12 Palestinian camps in Lebanon and hosts approximately 80,000 Palestinian refugees, who are part of the 250,000 refugees from Palestine currently residing in the country, as reported by the United Nations’ refugee agency for Palestine.
Given the volatile situation in Lebanon, the advisory from the Saudi embassy aims to ensure the safety of its citizens amidst the ongoing armed conflicts. The statement serves as a reminder for Saudi citizens to abide by the travel ban and take all necessary precautions to safeguard themselves.
“Praying for the safety of everyone affected by this escalating conflict.”