US Embassy in Israel tells staff, families ‘to shelter in place’
The United States Embassy in Israel has just issued a statement directing all US “government employees and their family members to shelter in place until further notice”.
The security alert came after a White House official said that the US had indications that Iran was preparing to imminently launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel.
‘Reckless’ Biden administration gave Israel ‘blank check to light region on fire’: US NGO
Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), a non-profit organisation based in Washington, DC, has called Israel’s ground attack on Lebanon “the entirely predictable consequence of the Biden administration’s ceaseless coddling and resupply of weapons to Israel”.
In a statement, Sarah Leah Whitson, DAWN’s executive director, said that the administration of US President Joe Biden “has acted recklessly in giving Israel a blank check to light the entire region on fire”.
The group said that the US should be using its leverage to advance diplomatic solutions that prioritise civilian lives “over endless conflict”.
“A ceasefire in Lebanon will be impossible without first securing a ceasefire in Gaza,” said Raed Jarrar, DAWN’s advocacy director. “Hezbollah and other armed groups have explicitly tied their actions to the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza,” said Jarrar, “so there is no hope of de-escalating the situation in Lebanon while allowing Israel to continue its atrocities in Gaza.”
Belgian foreign ministry says citizens should leave Lebanon: Report
Belgian citizens should leave Lebanon as soon as possible, the Belgian foreign ministry told Belga news agency.
“We still advise Belgian citizens to register on TravellersOnline or at the embassy in Beirut, and to leave Lebanon as soon as possible,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said earlier today.
However, by this afternoon, Belga news agency reported, it was clear that no tickets were available for these flights.
Turkey working with 20 countries in Lebanon evacuation preparations
Ankara is ready to carry out a possible evacuation of Turks from Lebanon via air and sea, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. The ministry also said the country is working with about 20 countries on preparing for a possible evacuation of foreign nationals via Turkey.
It said the security conditions in Lebanon could deteriorate, as Israel launched a ground incursion into south Lebanon. The ministry added a coordination centre had been set up to handle evacuation requests in line with the plans made by Turkish institutions.
