'Exercise Extreme Caution': Indian Mission Urges Nationals To Leave Lebanon Amid Deadly Escalation

The Indian Embassy in Beirut on Wednesday urged its nationals to leave Lebanon and warned them against travelling to the Arab state amid escalating violence in the region. It also advised Indians to exercise “extreme caution” while remaining in the country, which is on the brink of an all-out war with Israel.

“As a reiteration of the advisory issued on 1 August 2024 and in view of the recent developments and escalations in the region, Indian nationals are strongly advised against travelling to Lebanon till further notice,” the embassy said in an advisory posted on social media platform X.

‘Leave Lebanon’

“All Indian nationals already in Lebanon are also strongly advised to leave Lebanon. Those who remain for any reason are advised to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements, and remain in contact with the Embassy of India in Beirut through our email ID: [email protected] or the emergency phone number +96176860128,” the embassy said.

Last week pagers and other handheld communications devices of Hezbollah exploded in an operation widely attributed to Israel. Hundreds have died and thousands have been displaced since Israel launched its strikes, with the Lebanese health ministry saying that another 72 people died on Wednesday. Robert Wood, the deputy US ambassador to the UN, told the Security Council he was concerned by deaths in Lebanon

France and the United States on Wednesday (local time) unveiled a proposal for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon as the death toll mounted from Israeli strikes against Hezbollah. This emergency session came as Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi on Wednesday told his troops that the “jets flying overhead” towards Lebanon are there to “prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah,” according to BBC.

(With agency inputs)