The Ministry of Foreign Affairs ExteriorsEuropean Union and cooperation advised the Spaniards who are currently in Lebanon leave the country by commercial means still operational given the escalation in recent days between Israel and Lebanese Shiite militias Hezbollah.
The department headed by José Manuel Albares has updated travel recommendations for Lebanon where now, in addition to advises against traveling “under any circumstances” In the country, Spaniards are also recommended to be there, “especially if their stay is temporary, to abandon it using existing commercial means”.
In this sense, “it is recommended to remain attentive to the social networks and other means of communication of the Spanish Embassy in Beirut. In case of emergency, the Embassy advises to contact via the number 03110074 or the e-mail emb. beirut.sc@maec. .es.
On the other hand, the Foreign Affairs advised the Spanish to have “flights planned in the coming days “Check with your airline for possible schedule changes or flight cancellations.” While Beirut airport remains operational, some flights were cancelled throughout the day.
Similarly, the recommendation of avoid any movement south of the Litani River and in the Becá Valley region “because they are particularly dangerous.”
Specifically, these areas in the south and east of the country have been subjected to intense bombardment by Israel during the day that left more than 300 dead. Similarly, the Israeli army also confirmed a new “selective attack” in Beirut andn the last hours.
Israel has intensified its attacks in recent days offensive against Hezbollah, with bombings on the capital and the south of the country, main bastion of the militia party, which responded with successive bombings on the north of the neighboring country. In addition, Israel is believed to be behind the explosion last week of “pagers” and “walkie-talkies” Hezbollah militiamen who left more than thirty dead and thousands injured.
It should be recalled that Spain has a contingent of more than 650 Spanish soldiers deployed in the United Nations Mission in Lebanon (FINL), which is dedicated to patrolling the border between the two countries. Defense Minister Margarita Oaksexplained on Monday that they are in the bunkers because Israel has respected the custom of notifying when it is going to attack and clarified that the usual patrol tasks have been suspended and that currently only “essential” acts are being carried out.
“The spiral of violence must stop”
Thus, the government declared in a statement published by Foreign Affairs “its deep dismay and condemnation at Israeli bombingss (…) in response to Hezbollah’s attacks this weekend against Israel.”
“The spiral of violence must stop”supported the Executive, defending that “war must be avoided at all costs.” In this sense, the government maintained that “all parties must respect the lives of civilians and the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.”
Furthermore, he stressed that “it is necessary to defuse tensions and fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701,” while stressing that “the immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza is absolutely necessary to reduce regional tension.”
