David Lammy, Foreign Secretary of the UK, has posted on social media a stark warning as Israel has launched airstrikes and “tensions are high” in the country
David Lammy tonight urged British nationals to flee Lebanon as he warned the “situation could deteriorate rapidly”.
The Foreign Secretary posted on social media: “My message to British nationals in Lebanon is leave while commercial options remain. Tensions are high and the situation could deteriorate rapidly.”
Pagers used by hundreds of members of the militant group Hezbollah on Tuesday, and more electronic devices were detonated in Lebanon on Wednesday. It’s left an extremely tense situation in Israel, and there are fears the two sides’s simmering conflict could escalate into all-out war. Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed to retaliate following this week’s attacks which targeted Lebanese militants with exploding pagers.
Mr Lammy, 52, today confirmed he has spoken to the Lebanese prime minister to express “deep concern over rising tensions and civilian casualties” amid the ongoing hostilities.
The MP, who has represented Tottenham, north London, for more than 20 years, had earlier tweeted: “I spoke with Majib Mikati and expressed my deep concern over rising tensions and civilian casualties in Lebanon. We discussed the need for a negotiated solution to restore stability and security across the Blue Line.”
The “Blue Line”, drawn by the UN in 2000, separates Israel from southern Lebanon. Two Israeli soldiers were reported to have been killed by Hezbollah in the group’s own cross-border attacks today.
Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant meanwhile vowed that Israeli civilians would return to the country’s north as he promised Hezbollah would “pay an increasing price”.
Fears of an all-out war have mounted as Israel and Hezbollah continue to exchange fire across Lebanon’s southern border. Hezbollah’s renewed offensive followed Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, and both groups are backed by Iran.
Western countries including the UK have repeatedly urged restraint, arguing escalation could lead to a regional war. The Foreign Office continues to advise against all travel to Lebanon. Iraq and Iran are also on the red list of countries issued by the Foreign Office.
Tensions have been high in the region ever since the October 7 terror attacks on Israel by Hamas, which has seen Israel wage war against the militants in Gaza.
