US strengthens Lebanon travel advisory following death of Hezbollah leader

The State Department augmented its travel advisory in Lebanon after the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah from Israeli strikes, reupping calls for Americans to leave the country. 

The updated advisory, issued on Saturday, ordered the departure of family members of non-mission-employed individuals and authorized for mission-employed family members and non-essential employees to leave the country. 

“Due to the increased volatility following airstrikes within Beirut and the volatile and unpredictable security situation throughout Lebanon, the U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to depart Lebanon while commercial options still remain available,” the statement reads. 

Hezbollah leaders confirmed the killing of its leader on Saturday after the Israeli Defense Forces said Nasrallah was killed in airstrikes on Dahien, a suburb of the Lebanese capital city. The death of Nasrallah’s death is a major blow to the terrorist organization, which has been attacking Israel since Oct. 8. 

The embassy asked Americans remaining in Lebanon to prepare to shelter in place, and “strongly” encouraged citizens in Southern Lebanon to leave the region immediately in response to recent strikes.

As tensions in the Middle East mount, President Biden issued a statement declaring the death of Nasrallah as a “measure of justice” and reiterated his support for Israel. 

“Hassan Nasrallah and the terrorist group he led, Hezbollah, were responsible for killing hundreds of Americans over a four-decade reign of terror,” Biden wrote. “His death from an Israeli airstrike is a measure of justice for his many victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese civilians.”

U.S. officials first urged Americans to leave Lebanon after a series of pager attacks in the region killed dozens and wounded thousands last week.