British tourists warned ‘get out now’ as Foreign Office issues new advice | World | News

British nationals were yesterday urged to leave Lebanon immediately, with others warned not to travel to the country as Israel plans a bloody retaliation to a Hezbollah rocket attack over the weekend that killed 12 children and brought the two sides to the brink of war.

The alert was issued by Foreign Secretary David Lammy who called on all Brits to flee Lebanon as tensions continue to mount in the Middle East.

Anyone considering travelling to the country was also warned not to for the forseeable future.

Mr Lammy said events were “fast-moving” and the Foreign Office staff were working “round the clock” to help ensure the safety of UK citizens.

His comments came amid continued diplomatic efforts to help prevent a wider regional conflict from developing in the Middle East, following an escalation in fighting between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah over the weekend.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly warned Hezbollah it will pay ‘a heavy price’ the weekend attack on Israeli-occupied Golan Heights which killed 12 youngsters on a football pitch.

As a result, in its latest travel guidance, the British Foreign Office has now warned all UK citizens that events in the region could escalate with “little warning” and leave commercial routes out of Lebanon severely disrupted.

“Do not rely on FCDO [Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office] being able to evacuate you in an emergency,” the office added.

“You should have a personal emergency plan that does not rely on the UK government.

“This may include the ability to leave quickly or to shelter in place if you judge it necessary and safe to do so.”

Tensions between Israel and Lebanon heightened on Saturday, after the missile strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights killed 12 children.

Israel has blamed Hezbollah for the attack, while the country’s Prime Minister, Mr Netanyahu, has vowed that his military will hit back hard.

Hezbollah has denied any role in the strike, but the United States said there was no doubt it was carried out by the Lebanon-based terror group.

Both sides have exchanged fire almost daily since the conflict between Israel and Hamas started last October, although a full-scale escalation has so far been avoided.

The United Kingdom and United States have led international calls, in the wake of Saturday’s attack, for both Israel and Hezbollah to not allow the fighting to spiral any further.

Thousands of people gathered on Sunday for funerals in the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, territory captured from Syria by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed in a move not recognised by most countries.

Members of the Druze faith, which is related to Islam, Christianity and Judaism, make up more than half the 40,000-strong population of the Golan Heights.

Large crowds of mourners, many in traditional high white and red Druze headwear, surrounded the caskets as they were carried through the village.

But many countries in the region are fearful of what heavy Israeli revenge attacks could lead to.

Lebanon’s foreign minister, Abdallah Bou Habib said the U.S. had asked Lebanon’s government to pass on a message to Hezbollah to show restraint as well.

Iran’s foreign ministry warned Israel against what it called any new adventure in Lebanon.

And Syria’s foreign ministry said it held Israel “fully responsible for this dangerous escalation in the region” and said its accusations against Hezbollah were false.