• Calls for foreigners to leave Lebanon as war fears grow
• Iran threatened severe retaliation against Israel, blaming it for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran
• Western officials are concerned that Hezbollah, supported by Iran, could escalate tensions
• The US, UK, Australia, France, Canada, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Turkey, and Jordan have urged their nationals to leave Lebanon

Calls for foreigners to leave Lebanon as war fears grow

Several nations have advised their citizens to leave Lebanon, fearing a broader Middle Eastern conflict. This comes after Iran threatened severe retaliation against Israel, blaming it for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Israel has not commented on the incident, which occurred just hours after Israeli forces killed Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut.

Western officials are concerned that Hezbollah, supported by Iran, could escalate tensions, potentially provoking a strong Israeli response. As a result, the US, UK, Australia, France, Canada, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Turkey, and Jordan have urged their nationals to leave Lebanon. Flights at Beirut’s main airport have also been disrupted.

While most violence has been confined to border areas, the assassination of Shukr in Beirut’s Hezbollah-controlled Dahiyeh district has added to the tensions.