ISTANBUL: Turkey has urged its citizens in Lebanon to leave the country if it is not necessary to stay there, due to the possibility of a rapid deterioration of the security situation there, its foreign ministry said late on Sunday.
Tensions rose after the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Palestinian group Hamas, in Tehran on Wednesday, a day after Fuad Shouk, the top military commander of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut.
Turks in Lebanon should be cautious and not go to Nebatieh, South Lebanon, Bekaa and Baalbek-Hermel governorates unless necessary, the ministry said in a statement.
“Those who do not need to stay in Lebanon should leave Lebanon if possible while commercial flights are still operating,” it said, adding that Turks should avoid traveling to Lebanon unless essential.
Earlier on Sunday, France and Italy asked their citizens in Lebanon to leave the country due to the risk of military escalation in the Middle East.
