According to SCMP, Saudi Arabia, Canada and Jordan are the countries making this urgent call, after the US and UK. The calls come amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran-aligned armed groups, including Hezbollah and Hamas.
Over the weekend, the Israeli military said the militant group Hezbollah fired a series of rockets into northern Israel, causing the country to counterattack. There were about 30 projectiles launched from Lebanon and most were intercepted.
The situation in Lebanon is becoming increasingly complicated and dangerous, forcing France to warn its citizens.
The French Foreign Ministry asked citizens to avoid traveling to Lebanon and those in the country to leave "as soon as possible" due to the "extremely unstable" security situation.
The US also issued a similar warning, and at the same time the UK withdrew the families of Embassy staff in Beirut and called on citizens to leave Lebanon while commercial flight routes were still operating.
Several Western airlines have suspended flights to Lebanon and other regional airports, while Qatar Airways said the Doha-Beirut route would only "operate exclusively during the day" at least for until August 5.
The tense situation in this area does not stop in Lebanon. Israel continues to bomb Gaza, causing thousands of Palestinian casualties, according to SCMP. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, at least 39,583 people have died since the conflict began on October 7, 2023, however, there are no details on the number of civilian deaths.
In this context, intermediary countries such as Qatar, Egypt and the US are trying to negotiate to reach a ceasefire and exchange hostages. However, the assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah's military chief in Beirut have increased tensions and led to vows of revenge from Iran and affiliated armed groups.
US President Joe Biden dispatched warships and fighter jets to this area to support Israel. He also hopes Iran will exercise restraint and not escalate the conflict.
Meanwhile, Jordan sent Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi to Tehran to discuss the regional situation - a rare move in more than 20 years. Jordan also helped intercept missiles and drones fired by Iran toward Israel in April, in retaliation for the killing of its generals in Israeli airstrikes in Syria.
