UK withdraws some embassy staff from Lebanon amid Palestine-Israel conflict

Britain on Monday said it has "temporarily" withdrawn some embassy staff from Lebanon and asked British nationals to leave the country "while commercial options remain available."

A travel update published by The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said "events in Lebanon are fast moving" and "the situation has potential to deteriorate quickly and with no warning," amid the Palestine-Israel conflict.

"Commercial routes out of Lebanon could be severely disrupted or cancelled at short notice and roads across the country could be closed," the warning said.

"If you are currently in Lebanon, we encourage you to leave now while commercial options remain available."

The travel advice also asked British citizens to register themselves if they are in Lebanon.

Travel within or out of Lebanon is "at your own risk," it said.

It said the FCDO "cannot tell you whether it is safe to travel to any departure point within Lebanon.

The travel warning came "due to risks associated with the conflict between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories."

The update further said that "there are ongoing mortar and artillery exchanges and airstrikes in South Lebanon, on the boundary with Israel" and "tensions are high and events could escalate with little warning, which could affect or limit exit routes out of Lebanon."

"There is also a risk of civil unrest," it underlined, adding that "there have been large protests outside embassies, including outside the U.S. and French embassies.

"Further protests are expected," it added.