U.S. Asks Its Citizens in Lebanon to Avoid Public Places over Possible 'Terrorist Attacks'
The U.S. Embassy in Beirut on Sunday again warned U.S. citizens not to travel to Lebanon, urging those already in the country to avoid hotels, shopping centers and public events.
“Following recent bombings in Beirut and other instances of violence that have occurred in Lebanon in recent months, the U.S. government strongly urges U.S. citizens in Lebanon to exercise extreme caution and to avoid hotels, western-style shopping centers, including western-style grocery chain stores, and any public or social events where U.S. citizens normally congregate,” said a security message issued by the U.S. State Department and published on the embassy's website.
“These sites are likely targets for terrorist attacks for at least the near term,” the message warns.
The embassy further urged “all U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to Lebanon due to safety and security concerns.”
It noted that U.S. citizens living and working in Lebanon “should understand that they accept risks in remaining and should carefully consider those risks,” pointing out that “the ability of U.S. government personnel to reach travelers to provide emergency services may be limited.”
The pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat reported Wednesday that the State Department had called on its nationals to “take the highest precaution measures during the upcoming two weeks.”
On December 27, ex-Finance Minister and former Prime Minister Saad Hariri's adviser, Mohammed Shatah, who is a prominent critic of the Syrian regime, and seven others were killed in car bombing in the heart of the capital.
And on Thursday, a car bombing rocked the Beirut southern suburb of Haret Hreik, a Hizbullah stronghold, killing four people and wounding more than 70 others.
The bombing was claimed Saturday by the Qaida-linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, which vowed further attacks against Hizbullah in Lebanon.
The U.S. State Department has already warned U.S. citizens on several occasions to avoid all travel to Lebanon and recommended those in the country make plans to leave.
The conflict in Syria has increasingly spilled over into Lebanon in the shape of deadly clashes and bombings.
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