France has urged its citizens to avoid travelling to Israel, the Palestinian territories, and Lebanon due to concerns over a sharp escalation in the Middle East.
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Thursday advising, “Given the risk of military escalation in the Middle East, we formally advise French citizens, except in emergency situations, to refrain from travelling to Israel and the Palestinian territories, including for tourist and family visits.”
The statement also expanded the “red zones,” areas where travel is advised against under any circumstances.
Similarly, for the same reasons, Paris has officially recommended that French citizens avoid travelling to Lebanon.
Tensions escalated following an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut on Tuesday, which resulted in casualties.
The Israeli military confirmed that the attack targeted a senior Hezbollah leader.
The situation on the Israel-Lebanon border has worsened since the start of Israeli military operations in Gaza in October 2023. The Israeli army and Lebanese Hezbollah exchange fire daily along the border areas.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed on Wednesday to make Israel “regret” the “cowardly” killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran will defend its territorial integrity, honor, pride, and dignity, and make the terrorist invaders regret their cowardly action,” Pezeshkian stated on X, mourning Haniyeh as “a brave leader.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised “harsh punishment” for Israel following Haniyeh’s assassination.
“With this action, the criminal and terrorist Zionist regime prepared the ground for harsh punishment for itself, and we consider it our duty to seek revenge for his blood as he was martyred in the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Khamenei said in a statement via the official news agency IRNA.
