Politics

Jordan urges citizens to evacuate Lebanon amid rising regional tensions

"We urge citizens not to travel to the Republic of Lebanon at the present time and request Jordanian citizens residing in Lebanon to leave Lebanese territory as soon as possible."

Kurdistan 24 Digital Media 2024/08/04 10:33

A general view shows downtown Amman, Jordan. (Photo: AP)

Kurdistan Sufyan Qudah Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Israel-Hamas conflict Israel-Lebanon Tensions Regional Escalation The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Jordanian government on Saturday issued an urgent appeal for its citizens to leave Lebanon "as soon as possible" due to escalating fears of a large-scale regional conflict involving Iran and its allies against Israel.

The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised, "We urge citizens not to travel to the Republic of Lebanon at the present time and request Jordanian citizens residing in Lebanon to leave Lebanese territory as soon as possible."

Ministry spokesperson Sufyan Qudah emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "This recommendation is made out of caution for any developments in light of the regional situation and concern for the safety of our citizens."

Qudah also urged Jordanian nationals to "exercise the utmost caution and care, adhere to the instructions issued by the competent Lebanese authorities, and immediately register on the website of the Jordanian Embassy in Beirut."

Growing fears of a wider regional conflict are driven by recent events, including Iran and its allies' vows to retaliate for the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, an operation attributed to Israel. Additionally, the assassination of senior Hezbollah leader Fouad Shukr in an Israeli strike near Beirut, along with the United States bolstering its military presence in the region, has heightened tensions.

In response, several Western countries have intensified their calls for their citizens to leave Lebanon and Iran, with some airlines suspending their flights, as reported by France Presse.

While Israel has not commented on the assassination of Haniyeh, it has pledged to eliminate Hamas following the group's unprecedented attack on October 7, which prompted a severe Israeli military response in Gaza.