US Embassy in Beirut Warns Americans to Leave Lebanon

A locator map for Lebanon with its capital, Beirut. (AP Photo)

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut is warning Americans to either leave Lebanon or be prepared to shelter in place as tensions between Hezbollah and Israel rise in a “complex and quickly changing situation.”

“We recommend U.S. citizens develop a crisis plan of action and leave before a crisis begins,” Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Rena Bitter said in a video message posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on July 29. “Regularly scheduled commercial transportation is always the best option, while local communications and transportation infrastructure are intact and operating normally.”

If commercial air travel becomes unavailable, anyone remaining in Lebanon should be prepared to shelter in place for an extended period, according to Ms. Bitter.

“Finally, if your relatives are planning to visit you in Lebanon this summer, please strongly encourage them to reconsider their travel, given the difficulties that would hinder departure should conflict increase in the region,” she said.

The embassy is urging U.S. citizens in the country to leave soon and to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive alerts from the State Department so that they'll be easier to locate in case of emergencies.

Shortly after the warning was posted on July 29, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on social media that Israel would respond to the deadly rocket attack allegedly carried out by Lebanon-based Hezbollah, which the United States maintains is backed by Iran.

The attack on a soccer field in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights on July 27 killed 12 children, the Israel Defense Forces stated on social media.

In a statement on July 28, the United States also attributed the attack to Hezbollah, following discussions with Israeli and Lebanese authorities.

“It was their rocket and launched from an area they control. It should be universally condemned,” U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said.

“Hezbollah started firing on Israel on October 8, claiming solidarity with Hamas, another Iranian-backed terrorist group. Our support for Israel’s security is ironclad and unwavering against all Iran-backed threats, including Hezbollah.”

The White House stated that the United States also is working on a diplomatic solution along the U.N.-designated “blue line” demarcation between Lebanon and Israel to end the attacks and allow citizens on both sides of the border to return to their homes safely.

Monica O’Shea contributed to this report.