The Foreign Office urges Germans in Lebanon to leave
The German government urges all Germans in Lebanon to leave the country due to impending escalation in the Middle East. According to the Foreign Office, over 1000 people with German citizenship are on the crisis list of the ministry.
The Foreign Office urges Germans in Lebanon due to tensions between Israel and Hezbollah to leave. On the crisis preparedness list Elephant of the ministry, there are still 1300 people with German nationality reported to be residing in Lebanon, according to a spokesperson of the Foreign Office in Berlin. They should make use of all opportunities for departure while there is still time. There are still flights to Turkey and Europe, although Lufthansa has suspended its connections. The spokesperson added that all indications point to the radical-Islamic Hisbollah militia being behind the rocket attack on the Golan Heights.
"We have had a travel warning and an evacuation call for Lebanon since October 2023," the spokesperson said. He appealed to all Germans currently in the country to make use of the existing opportunities to leave "and do so urgently."
Previously, the Lufthansa Group had suspended its flights to Beirut due to security reasons. All flights were cancelled until coming Monday (5 August). Affected are the companies Swiss, Lufthansa, and Eurowings. Initially, cancellations were only planned up to Tuesday. Air France also cancelled its flights from Paris to Beirut for Monday and Tuesday due to security reasons, as the airline announced.
The German government condemned the attack on the Druze village of Majdal Shams on the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, where at least twelve people were killed on Saturday. "The continued attacks by Hezbollah and other actors are unacceptable. They must stop," said the deputy government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann.
Fear of a large-scale fire in the region
And: "It is important in this tense situation to continue to prevent an escalation and a regional large-scale fire. We make this clear to our partners time and again. All actors are called upon to use their influence on their allies in the region."
Israel's government is preparing for a retaliatory strike against Hezbollah in Lebanon following the devastating rocket attack. The Security Cabinet granted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Joav Galant the authority to "decide on the method, timing, and manner of action against the terrorist organization Hezbollah," according to the Prime Minister's Office.
The escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon have led the German government to urge its citizens to leave. The Foreign Office is advising the 1300 Germans residing in Lebanon to take advantage of any available departures, including flights to Turkey and Europe, as Lufthansa has temporarily suspended its connections. The crisis precipitated by the rocket attack on the Golan Heights is being linked to Hezbollah by the Foreign Office.
The German government has expressed concern over the attack on the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, resulting in the loss of at least twelve lives. Condemning the violence, the deputy government spokeswoman, Christiane Hoffmann, urged all parties to cease their attacks.
The Israeli government is reportedly preparing for a retaliatory strike against Hezbollah following the attack on the Golan Heights, with the Security Cabinet granting Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Galant the authority to act against Hezbollah. The potential for a large-scale conflict in the region adds to the urgency for Germans in Lebanon to leave.
