The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation has advised Spanish citizens currently in Lebanon to leave the country through the commercial media still operational in the face of the escalation of recent days between Israel and Hezbollah.
The department he heads Jose Manuel Albares has updated the travel recommendations for Lebanon where now, in addition to advising against traveling “under any circumstances” to the country, it is also recommended that Spaniards who are there, “especially if their stay is temporary, leave by commercial means.” existing.
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 the number 03110074 or the e-mail emb.beirut.sc@maec.es”, adds the website of the ministry.
On the other hand, the Foreign Affairs has advised Spaniards who have “flights scheduled in the coming days to consult their airline regarding the possibility of schedule changes or flight cancellations. Although Beirut airport remains operational, some flights were cancelled throughout the day.
Likewise, the recommendation is maintained to avoid any movement towards the south of the Litani River and in the area of the Becá Valley “as they are particularly dangerous.”
Precisely, these areas in the south and east of the country were the subject of intense bombardments by Israel during the day, which left more than 356 dead. Similarly, the Israeli army also confirmed a new “selective attack” in Beirut in recent hours.
Tracking Hezbollah
Israel has stepped up its offensive against Hezbollah in recent days, with bombings on the capital and the south of the country, the main stronghold of the militia party, which responded with bombings in turn on the north of the neighboring country. In addition, Israel is believed to be behind last week’s explosion “pagers” and “walkie-talkies” Hezbollah militiamen who left more than thirty dead and thousands injured.
It is worth remembering that Spain has a contingent of more than 650 Spanish soldiers deployed within the United Nations Mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL), who are dedicated to patrolling the border between the two countries. The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, explained this 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 work has been suspended and currently only the “indispensable” acts.
Thus, the government expressed in a statement published by Foreign Affairs “its deep dismay and condemnation at the Israeli bombings (…) in response to the attacks by Hezbollah this weekend against Israel”.
“The spiral of violence must stop,” the Executive argued, 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.”
