28 Sep 2024 | 07:26 PM UTC
Lebanon: US officials order departure of non-mission-employed eligible family members Sept. 28 amid deteriorating security environment
US orders departure of non-mission-employed family members, authorizes departure for others, from Lebanon Sept. 28 after Nasrallah killed.
The US Department of State has issued a travel advisory ordering the departure of non-mission-employed eligible family members (EFMs) and authorizing the departure of mission-employed EFMs and nonessential direct hire employees from Lebanon Sept. 28. The advisory comes after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) killed Lebanese Hizballah (LH) leader Hassan Nasrallah in airstrikes on LH's headquarters in the Dahieh suburb of Beirut Sept. 27. The advisory also restricts the employees of the US Embassy in Lebanon from personal travel without prior authorization.
The US government's advisory comes a day after the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) urged British nationals in Lebanon on Sept. 27 to leave the country "now." The FCDO statement further advised British nationals to "take the next available flight."
In the near term, a heightened security presence is likely in the vicinity of US and other foreign diplomatic facilities in Lebanon. Additional US personnel in Lebanon may be evacuated in the coming days. On-site services and document delivery to and from diplomatic missions could be disrupted amid the prevailing volatile and unpredictable security situation.
Follow all official instructions. Maintain contact with diplomatic representations. Ensure contingency plans account for disruptions to consular support.
In light of recent regional tensions, consider avoiding nonessential travel to Lebanon, particularly the border region shared with Israel, until the situation stabilizes. Consider departing Lebanon via commercial means while these are available. Note that commercial options to leave Lebanon may become increasingly limited if the security environment further deteriorates.
