Due to the unpredictable nature of the powder keg situation in the Middle East, the United States Department of State has issued a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisory for Lebanon, ordering a full evacuation of all family members and non-essential staff from the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
The State Department is calling on all American nationals to avoid traveling to Lebanon due to the "Unpredictable Security Situation."
"Raised to Level 4 and updated to reflect the authorized departure of family members of U.S. government personnel and some non-emergency personnel on a case-by-case basis," the travel advisory, issued on Oct. 17, 2023, reads.
"Do not travel to Lebanon due to the unpredictable security situation related to rocket, missile, and artillery exchanges between Israel and Hizballah or other armed militant factions."
"Reconsider travel to Lebanon due to terrorism, civil unrest, armed conflict, crime, kidnapping, and Embassy Beirut's limited capacity to provide support to U.S. citizens."
(Related: In Israel's view, the Palestinian people are just "human animals" with minimal worth.)
The Middle East in general is fast becoming a no-go zone
On October 17, the State Department authorized the voluntary, temporary departure of all family members of U.S. government personnel, along with some non-emergency personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, due to not knowing what may come next for the Middle East.
The State Department is warning Americans to not travel to:
• The border with Syria due to terrorism and armed conflict
• The border with Israel due to the potential for armed conflict
• Refugee settlements anywhere due to the potential for armed clashes
Saudi Arabia issued a similar call on its citizens to leave Lebanon immediately and adhere to the country's travel ban because things are heating up fast as Israel moves forward with its planned ground or other full-frontal invasion of Gaza.
All along Israel's northern border with Lebanon, there has been both rocket and antitank fire in recent days since the initial Hamas attack on October 7.
Protesters are reportedly already marching on the U.S. Embassy in Beirut in response to the hundreds of deaths that were reported at a Gaza City hospital this week. A blast from "a disputed source" – meaning neither Israel nor Hamas is willing to take credit for it – wrecked the hospital (or the hospital's parking lot, depending on the media source), prompting public outrage.
According to fake president Joe Biden, an "errant rocket fired by a terrorist group in Gaza" was responsible for the blast, while others, including an early but now-deleted tweet from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's aid, say it came from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), based on the nature of the blast.
U.S. officials are also warning against all travel to Syria due to "terrorism and armed conflict" in the region, including in the highly disputed Golan Heights, which is not internationally recognized but that Israel annexed in 1981.
The Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafes, Nightclubs and Pastries in Lebanon is estimating that Lebanon's tourism sector faces an estimated $500 million in losses due to all this ceased travel to the country.
"I would suggest avoiding the Middle East in its entirety," wrote one commenter half-jokingly – though by the looks of things, this is probably good advice for the foreseeable future.
"It really says a lot for U.S. citizens' intelligence that they need someone to tell them not to go to a war zone area," wrote another.
"And if someone goes anyway and ends up being a hostage, they will expect our government to jump through hoops to free them," suggested someone else.
As the situation in the Middle East continues to heat up, we will keep you informed about the latest at Prophecy.news.
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