Khaldon Azhari
TOKYO: The Japanese Foreign Ministry has urgently advised citizens to avoid traveling to Lebanon, saying tensions in the Middle East are rapidly escalating and the situation in Lebanon is at risk of rapid deterioration following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.
The warning, issued by the Ministry’s Overseas Japanese Nationals Safety Division, urgently asked Japanese residents in Lebanon to consider leaving the country “as soon as possible.”
The risk advisory strongly emphasized the need for safety preparations, urging citizens to stay informed about the latest developments from multiple sources. “In the event of a rapid deterioration of the situation, citizens are advised to evacuate to a safe area as soon as possible. Additionally, citizens are urged to double-check the preparation of their belongings and emergency supplies.”
The Ministry urged those staying in Lebanon to submit their whereabouts and their local emergency contact information to the local diplomatic mission.
With this warning, the Foreign Ministry effectively raised the danger level of the whole country of Lebanon to 3, which advises the Japanese to refrain from traveling to the whole of Lebanon. The Lebanese border area with Israel has been already set at level 4 in the Japanese warning scale of 4 levels. Level 4 urges the Japanese “to evacuate immediately.”
The Foreign Ministry warning also adopted the Israeli claims that “the July 27 missile attack on Majdal Shams, which Israel controls on the Golan Heights, came from the Lebanon side, resulting in numerous civilian casualties.” Since then, attacks from Israel have continued in southern Lebanon and elsewhere.”
On July 28, the Israeli government decided to give its Prime Minister and Minister of Defense the authority to decide on an attack plan against Lebanon’s Hezbollah. “Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon and other areas are continuing and the situation is likely to become even more tense in the future,” the Foreign Ministry said.
The warning noted that some airlines have already suspended or changed their scheduled flights in response to the above. Depending on future changes in the situation, the number of scheduled commercial flights may be very limited, “so those Japanese planning to travel or stay in Lebanon should cancel their trip or should consider leaving the country as soon as possible while scheduled commercial flights are operating. Even those staying in Lebanon due to unavoidable circumstances should continue to consider leaving the country as soon as possible.”
The Ministry advised residents in Lebanon to refer to the emergency response manual in the safety guide available at the Japanese Embassy in Lebanon and to reconfirm their preparations, belongings, and stockpiles of supplies. When evacuating, including temporarily leaving the country, citizens are encouraged to get in touch with the Embassy in Lebanon for support and guidance.
There are currently about 60 Japanese citizens residing in Lebanon, according to the Foreign Ministry data.