After Iran, Paris invites its nationals in Lebanon on Sunday August 4, and “especially those passing through”has “make arrangements now to leave [le pays] as soon as possible”it is written on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Travel Advice. In a note, the Quai d’Orsay mentions the “very volatile security context” in the region and calls on its nationals to “the greatest vigilance”. The ministry recalls that “direct and connecting commercial flights to France are still available”. Follow our live.
Hezbollah claims to have launched “dozens” of rockets at Israel. “The Islamic Resistance added the new settlement of Beit Hillel to its list of targets and bombarded it for the first time with dozens of rockets”the pro-Iranian movement said in a statement.
Calls from Western chancelleries to leave Lebanon are increasing. “My message to British nationals is clear: leave now.” the country, said British Foreign Minister David Lammy. For its part, the US embassy urged its nationals to leave Lebanese territory by taking “any available plane ticket”.
Several airlines are suspending flights to Beirut airport. Air France and Transavia France have decided to extend the suspension of their flights to Beirut until August 6 inclusive. Normally, both companies operate several weekly connections to Beirut from French airports. The German airline, Lufthansa has suspended flights to Tel Aviv until August 8.