‘Depart NOW’: US urges citizens to leave Lebanon as Israel warns of strikes on Hezbollah
The US Embassy in Beirut said Americans should “depart Lebanon NOW while commercial flight options remain available”, citing a rapidly deteriorating security situation.
“The security situation in Lebanon is volatile and unpredictable. Airstrikes have occurred throughout the country, especially in the south, the Beqaa, and parts of Beirut,” the embassy said in a social media post.
Israel warns Hezbollah, Iran allies
Israel’s military chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said the campaign would expand beyond Iran to target Iran-backed groups across the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“We will end this campaign with not just Iran being struck but with Hezbollah suffering a devastating blow,” Zamir said in a military statement.
“Our message is clear and resonates throughout the Middle East: We will strike all terrorist leaders and factions who rise to harm us. We have proven this and will continue to prove it,” he added.
The warning came as Israeli forces traded fire with Hezbollah along the Lebanon border, triggering fresh displacement in southern areas.
Missiles hit Gulf, US aircraft downed
Iran and allied militias fired missiles at Israel and several Arab states, with one strike reportedly hitting the US Embassy compound in Kuwait. In a separate incident, Kuwait’s air defences “mistakenly shot down” three US F-15E Strike Eagles during a combat mission, according to the US military. All crew members survived.
The Iranian Red Crescent said at least 555 people had been killed in Iran and more than 130 cities struck in the US-Israeli campaign. Authorities reported 11 deaths in Israel and 31 in Lebanon.
Iranian cleric Alireza Arafi, speaking after being appointed to the country’s temporary leadership council, said he hoped a successor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would be named soon.
He expressed hope that a new supreme leader would be “quickly” appointed.
The escalating conflict has raised fears of a broader regional war, with civilian evacuations, embassy warnings and cross-border strikes intensifying across West Asia.