On September 21st local time, the US State Department issued a Level 4 travel warning statement ("Do Not Travel" warning) for Lebanon, urging US citizens to leave Lebanon while commercial flights are still available, and stating that the US embassy may not be able to assist US citizens who choose to stay in Lebanon. Level 4 warning, also the highest travel warning level of the US State Department.
Currently, the armed conflict between the Israeli military and Hezbollah in Lebanon is intensifying. On the 21st local time, the Israeli army launched a large-scale attack on southern Lebanon. In response, Hezbollah launched dozens of missiles at the Ramat David Air Base near the northern Israeli city of Haifa in the early hours of the 22nd.
Analysts have pointed out that the situation in the Middle East is once again tense, with Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon not being major oil producing countries. However, if Iran intervenes, the production and transportation of crude oil in the Middle East may be affected.
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The United States urges its citizens to leave Lebanon as soon as possible
The US State Department issued a Level 4 travel warning statement ("Do Not Travel" warning) for Lebanon on the 21st local time. It is understood that a level 4 warning is the highest travel warning level issued by the US State Department.
The statement stated that in view of recent bombings across Lebanon and the unpredictable nature of the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, the US Embassy urges American citizens to leave Lebanon while commercial flights are still available. The US embassy may not be able to provide assistance to American citizens who choose to stay in Lebanon.
The statement also warns American citizens in Lebanon that if they choose to stay in Lebanon, they should be prepared to seek refuge on the spot if the situation further deteriorates. The statement states that American citizens in Lebanon should be aware that consular officers at the US embassy are not always able to travel to assist them. The US State Department believes that the threat faced by US government personnel in Beirut is severe enough and requires them to live and work in strict security.
The statement pointed out that since October 8, 2023, there has been a cross-border exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israel; On September 17-18, 2024, communication equipment explosions occurred in various parts of Lebanon, including the capital Beirut, resulting in dozens of deaths and thousands of injuries. On September 20th, targeted attacks were carried out in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
According to AXIOS News, US officials have stated that the Biden administration is "extremely concerned" about a full-scale war between Israel and Lebanon, but hopes to use Israel's increasing military pressure on Hezbollah to reach a diplomatic agreement that will allow civilians on both sides of the Israel Lebanon border to return home.
In addition, US National Security Advisor Sullivan stated on Saturday that he is concerned about the escalation of conflict between Israel and Lebanon. Sullivan stated that the risk of further escalation of the conflict is "serious" following Israeli attacks and pager and walkie talkie explosions across Lebanon this month that resulted in at least 39 deaths and approximately 3000 injuries.
Large scale Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon
According to CCTV News, on the early morning of September 22, the Israeli Defense Forces announced that they had struck approximately 290 targets of Hezbollah militants on September 21. On the evening of the 21st, the Israeli army launched another round of attacks on about 110 targets of Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon.
On the 21st, the Israeli military launched its "most intense airstrikes" on Lebanon for the second consecutive day since the outbreak of a new round of Israeli Palestinian conflict on October 7th last year. Hezbollah in Lebanon reported that on the early morning of September 22 local time, it launched dozens of missiles at the Ramat David Air Base near the northern Israeli city of Haifa in response to the Israeli military's large-scale airstrikes in southern Lebanon.
Israeli military spokesperson Hagari announced on the evening of September 21st that over 400 rocket launch platforms and thousands of launch tubes of Hezbollah in Lebanon had been bombed on that day.
In addition, on the 21st local time, the Israel Defense Forces announced on their official social media account that with the deaths of more than a dozen important members of Hezbollah, including Ibrahim Akil, in yesterday's attack, Hezbollah's military command system has been "almost completely dismantled". There has been no response from Hezbollah in Lebanon regarding this matter.
On the evening of the 20th, the Israel Defense Forces announced that they carried out a "targeted attack" on Beirut with fighter jets, killing senior commander Akil and several other commanders of the elite Lebanese Hezbollah unit Radwan. On the night of the 20th, Hezbollah confirmed that its senior military commander Ibrahim Akkil was killed in an Israeli attack on the southern outskirts of Beirut that day. Hezbollah stated in its statement that Akil is an important leader. But there were no further details in the statement about Akil's death in the attack.
On the 21st, Hezbollah issued a statement stating that its armed forces launched rockets at at least seven military strongholds in northern Israel and the Golan Heights controlled by Israel. Hezbollah has stated that it will continue to fight against the Israeli army until Israel agrees to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military stated that as of late afternoon on the 21st, Hezbollah militants have fired about 90 rockets at Israeli targets, and the Israeli military has also received reports of rocket attacks causing damage and fires in northern Israel. There are currently no reports of casualties.
The war has escalated, and the Israeli military has issued a new defense policy
On the 21st local time, Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari held a press conference and announced a new defense policy targeting residents in the north. For possible attacks, the Israeli military will take new measures in the north.
As the conflict in northern Israel escalates, the Israeli National Defense Command is implementing new restrictions on civilians in the Haifa area and north, including ensuring timely access to shelters near educational activities and workplaces for normal operations; The gathering will be limited, with a maximum of 30 people outdoors and 300 people indoors.
According to the statement released by the Israel Defense Forces on the same day, the change in defense policy will begin at 20:30 on the 21st, and areas such as Lower Galilee, Central Galilee, Upper Galilee, and the Bay of Haifa will be affected.
In addition, the Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut have further escalated the tension between Lebanon and Israel. On September 21st local time, multiple statements were issued condemning Israel's actions.
According to Al Jazeera on the 21st, Hamas issued a statement stating that the Israeli airstrike on the Lebanese capital Beirut was foolish and that Israel will pay the price for it.
On the 21st, the Houthi armed forces in Yemen also issued a statement stating that the actions of the Israeli army were both criminal and barbaric aggression, leading to an escalation of the situation.
On the same day, Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned Israel's military operations in Lebanon, saying that these attacks proved Israel's attempt to expand the conflict. In response to the recent communication equipment explosions in multiple parts of Lebanon, Erdogan stated that Israel is launching attacks like a terrorist organization, using any means necessary to achieve its ambitions.
On the 21st local time, spokesperson for the German Federal Government, Heibei Strecht, stated that if the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon spreads throughout the Middle East, the resulting destruction will be catastrophic, and he called for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement on the same day, stating that as tensions between Lebanon and Israel continue to escalate, "the entire region has held its breath." The German side is in communication with Israel and Lebanon, and specific measures are urgently needed to ease the situation and avoid more civilian casualties.