China calls on its nationals to leave Lebanon as soon as possible

China on Thursday urged its citizens to exit Lebanon “as soon as possible” following an Israeli strike that killed a leader of the Palestinian Fatah movement in the south of the country.

The Chinese embassy in Beirut stated: “The situation on the border between Lebanon and Israel continues to be tense, and the security situation in Lebanon is risky and complex.”

It said in the statement that “the current risk level for travel to southern Lebanon and Nabatieh is red (highest risk level) and orange in other areas (high risk).”

The statement advised Chinese citizens currently in Lebanon to “take advantage of the continued availability of commercial flights and return to China or leave the country as soon as possible.”

Israel has stepped up its strikes in Lebanon, targeting a leader of the Palestinian Fatah movement for the first time since the beginning of the Gaza war on Wednesday.

The Fatah movement, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, has accused Israel of desiring to “set the region on fire” by assassinating Khalil al-Maqdah.

Amid rising tensions in the region, including the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and the ongoing war on Gaza, many countries have called on their citizens to leave Lebanon in recent weeks.

Until recently, the Chinese embassy simply called on its citizens to “exercise caution” when travelling to Lebanon.