"As soon as possible" The Chinese Embassy in Beirut calls on its citizens to leave Lebanon

The Chinese embassy in Beirut called on its citizens on Thursday to leave Lebanon "as soon as possible" in light of the security situation in Lebanon and tensions on the border with Israel.

The embassy said in a statement that "recently, the situation on the border between Lebanon and Israel has remained tense, and the security situation in Lebanon is dangerous and complex."

The embassy explained that "the current risk level for travel to southern Lebanon and Nabatieh is red (highest risk level) and orange in other areas (high risk)."

The statement recommended that Chinese citizens currently in Lebanon "take advantage of the continued availability of commercial flights and return to China or leave the country as soon as possible."

Israel intensified its strikes in Lebanon and targeted for the first time on Wednesday a leader in the Palestinian Fatah movement since the start of the war in Gaza.

The Fatah movement, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, accused Israel of wanting to "ignite the region" by assassinating Khalil al-Maqdah.

In recent weeks, many countries have called on their citizens to leave Lebanon.

The Chinese embassy has so far only urged its citizens to "exercise caution" when travelling to Lebanon.

The Israeli army announced today, Thursday, that it had attacked during the night more than 10 areas in southern Lebanon that contain weapons storage facilities and military installations belonging to Hezbollah.