13/07/2006

Foreign Office warn against travel to Lebanon

The Foreign Office has advised against travel to Lebanon following the Israeli air attacks on locations throughout the country yesterday.

The review comes after the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers on the border between Israel and Lebanon on July 12, and the subsequent Israeli strikes on sites across Lebanon over the past few days.

It is also understood that the exchange of fire across the border and the military activity in the area has greatly increased, and the British Foreign Office has advised citizens against all, except for essential travel to the country.

The Foreign Office has also advised against all travel to areas of southern Lebanon south of a line between Tyre and Marjayoun as both runways of Beirut airport are currently closed as a result of Israeli airstrikes.

A statement published by the Foreign Office read: "If you are currently in Lebanon you should exercise caution, keep in touch with the Embassy and heed local advice. We are keeping the situation under close review."

Full details of the revised travel advice for Lebanon are available on the Foreign Office website www.fco.gov.uk/travel.

(EF/SP)

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