Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to avoid traveling to Lebanon and advising Pakistanis currently residing there to leave immediately.
“In light of the recent violence in Lebanon, Pakistani nationals are strongly advised not to travel to Lebanon until further notice,” MOFA said in a statement on Wednesday.
The advisory encouraged Pakistanis still in Lebanon to depart using available commercial flights. Those unable to leave are urged to “exercise extreme caution and move to safer areas.”
MOFA also advised citizens to remain in contact with the Pakistani Embassy in Beirut, providing contact numbers and an email address for assistance.
Cell/Whatsapp:
+961-81669488
+961-81815104
Email:
parepbeirut@mofa.gov.pk
This comes as Israel escalated airstrikes in Lebanon. Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad confirmed that at least 51 people were killed and 223 wounded in Israeli strikes on Wednesday. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for launching a missile at a Mossad facility near Tel Aviv, though this could not be independently verified.
Israeli army chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi instructed troops to prepare for a possible ground invasion of Lebanon, as Israeli jets continued striking Hezbollah positions across the border.
“You can hear the planes overhead; we are striking all day. Both to prepare the ground for your possible entry, and to keep hitting Hezbollah,” Halevi told a tank brigade, according to a military statement.
As the conflict worsens, hundreds of thousands of Lebanese have fled their homes, and hospitals are overwhelmed with the injured amid the deadliest escalation since Lebanon’s civil war ended in 1990.
