The U.S. Department of State issued a warning on Tuesday, advising Americans against traveling to Lebanon due to the escalating conflict between Hamas and Israel. The ongoing conflict, which began on October 7 when Hamas launched a major attack on Israel, has led to widespread violence, casualties, displacements, and captivity on both sides.

The advisory stated that the Lebanon-Israel border has seen incidents of violence, including confrontations between Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah fighters from Lebanon, who have expressed a desire to get involved in the war. Due to these evolving circumstances, the State Department elevated its travel advisory for Lebanon to “Level 4: Avoid All Travel” owing to the unstable security conditions arising from the exchanges of rockets, missiles, and artillery between Israel and Hezbollah, along with various other armed militant factions.

The advisory also emphasized the threat of possible terrorist attacks in Lebanon, particularly targeting transportation hubs, tourist areas, markets, shopping malls, and local government facilities. It pointed out that the Lebanese government cannot guarantee the safety of U.S. citizens in the face of sudden outbreaks of violence, which can stem from various sources such as neighborhood conflicts, family disputes or sectarian tensions.

The advisory further mentioned that protests have erupted in Lebanon and other countries in the Middle East following incidents like the strike on a Gaza hospital, leading to clashes between security forces and demonstrators . To stay safe if Americans still choose to travel to Lebanon, the advisory recommended measures like avoiding demonstrations and crowded areas, staying informed through local media, and reviewing Lebanon’s security report.

In response to the crisis, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut authorized the temporary and voluntary departure of family members of U.S. government personnel and some non-emergency personnel due to unpredictable security conditions in Lebanon.

This travel advisory for Lebanon came one week after the Department had already raised its advisory level for Israel and the West Bank to “Level 3: Reconsider Travel.” Additionally, the borders of Lebanon with Israel and Syria, as well as refugee settlements, were classified as “Level 4: Do Not Travel” in the Department’s advisory.