The U.S. State Department on Wednesday issued a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory for Lebanon, citing rising tensions between the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Israel.
“If you are in Lebanon, be prepared to shelter in place should the situation deteriorate,” warned the advisory, which also “strongly encourages” anyone in southern Lebanon to depart.
Hezbollah since Oct. 8—the day after Hamas attacked Israel, starting the current war in Gaza—has conducted attacks against Israel that have escalated in recent weeks, according to the advisory, culminating in a July 27 rocket attack on Majdal Shams, a town in the Golan Heights, which killed 12 children.
The advisory did not mention that earlier Wednesday, the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in the Iranian capital of Tehran, and on Tuesday, Israel claimed to have killed Hezbollah’s most senior military commander in Lebanon’s capital of Beirut in retaliation for the Golan Heights attack.
Hamas has blamed Israel for the attack in Tehran, but Israel has not confirmed or denied involvement in Haniyeh’s murder.
The attacks have caused further concern that the conflict between Israel and Gaza could expand into a larger Middle East war.
A Global Guardian situation report notes that Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and British Airways have canceled flights to and from Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport beginning Aug. 1 and through at least Aug. 6. Delta issued a travel exception for Tel Aviv flights through Sept. 6. Tickets must be reissued on or before Aug. 14, and travel must originate on or before Sept. 6. Major airlines also suspended service after the Oct. 7 attack.
The report also indicates that the Iranian response “could take several days to formulate as they coordinate with proxy groups across the region.”
The State Department travel advisory for Israel as of July 31 is to not travel to Gaza or northern Israel within 2.5 miles of the Lebanese and Syrian borders. It also recommends reconsidering travel to Israel and the West Bank due to terrorism and civil unrest.
