US urges citizens to leave Lebanon with ‘any ticket available’

The US ambassador in Beirut has urged its citizens to leave Lebanon “with any ticket available”, amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

The advice follows a similar warning from UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who said the situation “could deteriorate rapidly”.

Iran has vowed to take “severe” revenge against Israel, which it blames for the death of Hamas chief Ismael Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday. His killing came hours after Israel killed Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut.

It is feared that Lebanon’s Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed group, could play a major role in any such retaliation, which could trigger a serious Israeli response.

I American Ambassador he said on Saturday that those who choose to stay in Lebanon should “prepare emergency plans” and be ready to “take shelter in the area for a long time”.

It said many airlines have suspended and canceled flights, and many have been sold, but “commercial travel options from Lebanon are still available”.

The Pentagon said yes the deployment of more warships and warplanes in the region to help protect Israel from possible attacks by Iran and its proxies.

The UK said it was sending extra troops, diplomatic staff and border patrol officers to help with any evacuations – but urged UK citizens to leave the country “while commercial flights continue”.

Two British warships are already in the region and the Royal Air Force has put transport helicopters on standby.

Mr Lammy said “it is in nobody’s interest for this dispute to spread throughout the region”.

In April, Iran began airstrikes on Israel operates 170 drones, 30 cruise missiles and at least 110 missiles.

That was revenge against the Israelites the bombing of the Iranian embassy Damascus, Syria.

Many fear that Iran’s retaliation to this incident may take a similar form.

In a call with EU Foreign Policy Chief Joseph Borrell on Friday, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Baqeri Kani said Iran “will undoubtedly use its natural and legal right” to “punish” Israel.

On Friday, a broadcaster on Iran’s state television warned that “the world will witness extraordinary scenes”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Israelis that “challenging days are ahead… We have heard threats from all sides. We are prepared for any situation”.

Israeli ministers were sent home this weekend carrying satellite phones in case of an attack on the country’s telecommunications infrastructure.

Tensions between Israel and Iran first escalated as 12 children and teenagers were killed in a strike in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.

Israel blamed Hezbollah and vowed “severe” retaliation, although Hezbollah denied any involvement.

Days later, Hezbollah’s top commander Fuad Shukr was killed in an Israeli air strike in Beirut. Four others, including two children, were also killed.

A few hours later, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh he was killed in Iran, a major supporter of Hamas. He was visiting to attend the inauguration ceremony of the new president of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian.

At Haniyeh’s funeral in Tehran on Thursday, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, led the prayers. He had sworn before that Israel would suffer “severe punishment” for murder.