Indians 'strongly advised' to leave Lebanon amid tensions

Amid escalating tensions in the region, Indian nationals are urged to avoid all non-essential travel to or leave Lebanon.

On Thursday evening the Indian Embassy in Lebanon issued a travel advisory to citizens in the country saying they are "strongly advised to leave Lebanon".

The Indian Embassy in Beirut issued a travel advisory early Thursday morning, urging its citizens to exercise caution.

Those who continue to remain in Lebanon are urged to "exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements and remain in contact with Embassy of India in Beirut".

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The mission could be reached via e-mail cons.beirut@mea.gov.in or through the emergency phone number +96176860128, it added.

The US also issued a similar notice on Wednesday. The US State Department raised its travel advisory to Lebanon to level four, which says "Do Not Travel", and urged Americans in Lebanon to depart if possible.

Tensions have escalated in the region after a rocket attack on Israel-occupied Golan Heights killed 12 children on a football pitch. In response to the attack — which was blamed on Hezbollah but the latter denied — the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said a top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was killed in a strike in southern Lebanon on Tuesday.

• Israel says Hezbollah commander killed in south Beirut strike