'Israel' preparing for offensive on Lebanon in July: Israeli media
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According to Germany's Bild, "Israel" plans begin an offensive operation in Lebanon in the second half of July.
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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant sit down for a meeting at the Pentagon in Washington, on June 25, 2024. (AP)
"Israel" claims it will begin an offensive operation on Lebanon in the second half of July unless Hezbollah ceases its fire, the German Bild reported on Monday, citing diplomatic sources.
Lebanese Islamic Resistance group Hezbollah has repeatedly said it will not halt its attacks unless "Israel" ends its ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Lebanon and "Israel" have been at war since October 8, following the Al Aqsa Flood operations and the occupied forces' intense bombardment of Gaza, leading to Hezbollah launching a support front for the Palestinian people.
Despite the United States' support for "Israel", the Biden administration has strongly urged the occupied forces not to go to war with Lebanon, since it would be catastrophic for both sides and could potentially ignite a regional war.
Embassies call on their citizens to leave Lebanon
Amid worries of a full-scale war between "Israel" and Lebanon, seven countries have urged their citizens to evacuate from Lebanon, while five others warned their citizens not to travel to Lebanon at this time.
Saudi citizens currently in Lebanon were asked by the Saudi Embassy in Beirut on Saturday "to depart the Lebanese territory immediately" and were reminded to "stay in touch with the embassy in case of any emergencies."
Australia "strongly advised" citizens against traveling to the region, and encouraged citizens already in Lebanon to leave immediately while commercial aircraft are still operating.
The Dutch Foreign Ministry advised its people not to travel to Lebanon and to evacuate through available commercial airlines.
Germany's Foreign Ministry stressed that "the situation at the border between Israel and Lebanon is very tense" as it called on its residents living in Lebanon to return home.
The Canadian government also asked its citizens living in Lebanon to return home, as a statement by Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said, "The safety and security of Canadians at home and abroad is Canada’s top priority".
North Macedonia likewise requested that its nationals evacuate as soon as possible, while Kuwait asked its citizens to leave immediately “in view of the security situation taking place in the region."
