Vietnamese advised to leave Lebanon amid tensions

While currently in Lebanon, people should move to a third country or return to Vietnam as soon as possible, it said.

Vietnamese citizens were also advised to follow the security and safety guidelines and regulations set by the local authorities, and regularly check the warnings from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via its Consular Department or the Vietnamese embassies in Egypt, Iran, Israel, and neighboring countries for timely response.

Vietnamese citizens should contact the following emergency hotlines: The Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt and Lebanon: +201 02 613 9869; the Vietnamese Embassy in Iran: +98 21 224 11670; the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel: +972 50 818 6116; or the citizen protection hotline of the Consular Department: +84 981 84 84 84.

Tension in the region has been escalating after Israeli authorities accused Hezbollah forces in Lebanon of having launched rockets towards a football field in Majdal Shams on July 27, causing the death of 12 people and leaving several others injured. Hezbollah has denied the accusation.

Israeli government and army said they would retaliate against Hezbollah, sparking fears of a total war between the two sides. Israel then launched an attack onto Beirut, killing Fuad Shukr, a leader of the Hezbollah armed forces, on July 30.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated a day later in Iran’s capital Tehran. Iran and its allies accused Israel of having performed the assassination, swearing revenge.