Filipinos told to leave Lebanon immediately while airport is still open

The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon asked Filipinos in Lebanon to leave the country while the airport remains open amid fears of escalating violence between Iran-backed and Lebanon-based Hezbollah and Israel.
 

People gather near a destroyed building that was hit by an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. An Israeli airstrike hit Hezbollah’s stronghold south of Beirut Tuesday evening causing damage, a Hezbollah official and the group’s TV station said. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

“The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon strongly urges all Filipino citizens to leave Lebanon immediately while the airport remains operational,” an advisory, released on Friday night (Manila time), said.
 

“We advise all Filipino nationals to prioritize their safety and depart the country as soon as possible,” it added.
 

However, if they could not leave Lebanon, Filipinos were advised to evacuate to “safer areas outside of Beirut, South Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley.”
 

The embassy, which is distributing a repatriation form for those who want to go home, said they can be reached through these numbers: +961 79110729 for documented and undocumented Filipino workers) and +961 70858086 for workers with permanent resident status.
 

“The safety and security of every Filipino citizen is our top priority. We urge you to act swiftly and follow the above instructions to ensure your safety,” the advisory read.
 

The latest Israeli attack on southern Lebanon has killed nine people.
 

The attacks came as Hezbollah traded fire with Israel almost on a daily basis since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel. Hezbollah is an ally of Palestinian group Hamas, which is under fire in Gaza amid Israel’s retaliation.
 

But fears of a major escalation between Israel and Hezbollah skyrocketed last month after an Israeli strike killed Fuad Shukr, one of Hezbollah’s top commanders, in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
 

This came hours after an attack in Tehran killed Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh. The Tehran attack was blamed on Israel.
 

On Friday, Hezbollah reportedly released a video showing what seemed to be underground tunnels and missile launchers.
 

Hezbollah has strengthened its military artillery and capacity since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah clashes.

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