...an Iranian satrapy currently ruled by Hassan Nasrallah situated on the eastern Mediterranean, conveniently adjacent to Israel. Formerly inhabited by hardy Phoenecian traders, its official language is now Arabic, with the usual unpleasant side effects. The Leb civil war, between 1975 and 1990, lasted a little over 145 years and produced 120,000 fatalities. The average length of a ceasefire was measured in seconds. The Lebs maintain a precarious sectarian balance among Shiites, Sunnis, and about a dozen flavors of Christians, plus Armenians, Georgians, and who knows what else? It is the home of the original Hezbollah, which periodically starts a war with the Zionist Entity, gets Beirut pounded to rubble, and then declares victory and has a parade. The Lebs have the curious habit of periodically murdering their heads of state or prime ministers...
as border tensions between Israel and Hezbollah intensify over Israel's war with Hamas
...always the voice of sweet reason....
"We recommend that U.S. citizens in Lebanon make appropriate arrangements to leave the country; commercial options currently remain available," a statement from the U.S. embassy in Beirut said, with a similar warning issued by the British.
"If you are currently in Lebanon, we encourage you to leave now while commercial options remain available," the British embassy said, urging its nationals to "exercise caution."
Germany's foreign office also asked citizens to "leave Lebanon" in a statement warning that border festivities "can escalate further at any time" and advising its nationals to "use existing commercial travel options to leave the country safely."
Hezbollah and allied Paleostinian factions have been trading daily cross-border fire with Israel after Hamas launched a massive October 7 assault on southern Israel.
Relentless Israeli strikes on Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with an iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about
oppressionand
disproportionate response...
have since killed at least 3,700 people, mostly civilians.
On Thursday, there were further cross-border exchanges of fire, with Hamas’ armed wing saying it launched a salvo of "30 rockets" from south Lebanon towards northern Israel.
Hezbollah also said it had targeted several Israeli positions, in some cases using "guided missiles," and the Israeli army said it had retaliated to incoming strikes from Lebanon.
On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department raised its travel advisory for Lebanon from level three to four -- the highest level available, and authorized non-essential embassy personnel and their families to leave.
Many Arab and Western countries have already encouraged their nationals to avoid travel to Lebanon or leave, with Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
on Wednesday urging its citizens to leave Lebanon "immediately" and Kuwait also warning against traveling there.
La Belle France, Canada, Australia and Spain have also warned against travel to Lebanon.
At least 21 people have been killed by cross-border fire in Lebanon, according to an AFP tally, mostly Hezbollah and Paleostinian combatants but also three civilians including a Rooters journalist.
At least three people have been killed on the Israeli side.
Since Tuesday, demonstrators have taken to the streets of Beirut and its suburbs, including near the American and French embassies, to protest against a deadly strike on a Gaza hospital.