European and US nationals are being urged to leave Lebanon while efforts to deter an Israeli attack continue. The travel warnings were issued as US diplomatic efforts are reportedly aimed at curbing Israel’s response, urging it to refrain from striking densely populated Beirut.
Hezbollah refused to give any assurances, reiterating that it would “respond to any Israeli strike.” Israel wants to hurt Hezbollah but not drag the Middle East into an all-out war, two Israeli officials said on Monday, according to Reuters.
Two other Israeli officials said Israel was preparing for the possibility of several days of fighting after Saturday’s rocket attack on a sports field in the Druze town, which it blamed on Iran-backed Hezbollah. Hezbollah has denied involvement in the attack.
Lebanon’s interim foreign minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, held talks at the foreign ministry with Hezbollah’s spokesman for Arab countries and international relations, Ammar al-Moussawi. The officials did not make any statements after the talks, but sources told media that they agreed to further coordinate with each other.
Moussawi also reiterated Hezbollah’s position that the group would strike back at Israel. He said:
The issue has been decided and it is not up for debate.
The extent of the response will depend on how Hezbollah assesses the Israeli strike. The issue will be decided on the ground, he added.
Media close to Hezbollah reported that Western forces insist on knowing how Hezbollah will respond to the Israeli attack. Hezbollah has made no guarantees to anyone and has said it adheres to the rules of engagement, they said.
Hezbollah’s position was communicated to “all parties, including parliament speaker Nabih Berri, interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Foreign Minister and US envoy Amos Hochstein.”
US and UK on the conflict with Hezbollah
Western powers tried to contain the situation. Washington emphasised the importance of preventing any escalation after the attack on the Golan. London demanded that all sides exercise restraint.
While Washington also held Hezbollah responsible for the rocket attack and defended Israel’s right to retaliate, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a telephone conversation with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday, emphasised the importance of preventing an escalation of the conflict, the US State Department said. They discussed efforts to reach a diplomatic solution to allow displaced people to return home, Reuters reported.
In Beirut, Mikati received a call from British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who reiterated his call for all sides to exercise restraint to prevent an escalation of the conflict. He called for peaceful resolution of the conflicts on the basis of relevant international resolutions.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy called on British citizens to leave Lebanon and refrain from travelling to the country. Mr. Lammy said events were “developing rapidly” and Foreign Office staff were working “around the clock” to ensure the safety of British citizens.
The Foreign Office said:
Do not rely on FCDO [Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office] being able to evacuate you in an emergency. You should have a personal emergency plan that does not rely on the UK government. This may include the ability to leave quickly or to shelter in place if you judge it necessary and safe to do so.
Some flights to and from Beirut International Airport were cancelled this week, with Jordanian carrier Royal Jordanian becoming the latest on Monday, suspending flights until at least Tuesday.
