Germany has urged its citizens to leave Lebanon immediately due to a potential escalation of the conflict between Israel and the pro-Iran Hezbollah group.
“German nationals are urgently requested to leave Lebanon,” the Foreign Ministry announced. “The current heightened tensions in the border area with Israel could escalate further at any time.”
There is also an “increased risk of terrorist attacks” within the country, targeting Western foreigners and large hotels, it added.
Regular cross-border exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah have occurred since the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas attacked Israeli territory on 7 October, sparking a war in the Gaza Strip.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned of “miscalculations” that could ignite a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, calling for “extreme restraint.”
"With every rocket across the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel, the danger grows that a miscalculation could trigger a hot war," Baerbock said on X during a visit to Beirut, referring to the demarcation line between Israel and Lebanon.
