The Department of Defense has issued an evacuation order in Lebanon as the United States seeks to bolster its defenses in the Middle East due to the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah .
The DOD issued a “do not travel” advisory for the country on Saturday and ordered mission-employed and non-mission-employed family members, as well as nonessential U.S. direct hire employees, to leave the country as soon as possible. Under that order, U.S. Embassy Bierut personnel are restricted from traveling without advance permission.
The warning comes after President Joe Biden reiterated support for Israel to defend itself against Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and other Iranian-supported terrorist groups, directing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to enhance U.S. defenses in the Middle East to “deter aggression” and reduce the risk of greater war.
Biden praised the assassination of Nasrallah as an act of “justice” for thousands of people who were killed by the Hezbollah militant group, including Americans.
“Hassan Nasrallah and the terrorist group he led, Hezbollah, were responsible for killing hundreds of Americans over a four-decade reign of terror,” Biden said in a statement. “His death from an Israeli airstrike is a measure of justice for his many victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese civilians.”
Vice President Kamala Harris echoed similar sentiments, saying in a statement that she and Biden are working on "a diplomatic solution along the Israel-Lebanon border so that people can safely return home on both sides of that border."
"Hassan Nasrallah was a terrorist with American blood on his hands," Harris said in a statement. "Across decades, his leadership of Hezbollah destabilized the Middle East and led to the killing of countless innocent people in Lebanon, Israel, Syria, and around the world. Today, Hezbollah’s victims have a measure of justice."
"I have an unwavering commitment to the security of Israel," she added. "I will always support Israel’s right to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis."
The Embassy is encouraging U.S. citizens to depart Lebanon while commercial options are still available in the country. Commercial airlines are still operating in the area but at a reduced capacity due to the tense security situation. If these situations become more volatile, commercial options could become unavailable, according to the DOD.
The Embassy warned that it might not be able to assist citizens who choose to stay in Lebanon if the security situation worsens.
For those who choose to stay, the DOD is instructing citizens to shelter in place and urging those in Southern Lebanon, near the borders with Syria , and those in refugee settlements to “depart those areas immediately.”
The “do not travel” warning was issued due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, unexploded landmines, and the risk of armed conflict, the DOD said.
The warning comes after the Israeli military assassinated the Hezbollah leader on Friday, resulting in heightened security measures across the country. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly since been transferred to a secure location as concerns rise he could become the next target.
Reuters reported that Iran is in “constant contact” with Lebanon’s Hezbollah and other proxy groups to determine their next steps.
Now, Biden said the U.S. will work to de-escalate conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon “through diplomatic means.”
“In Gaza, we have been pursuing a deal backed by the U.N. Security Council for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. In Lebanon, we have been negotiating a deal that would return people safely to their homes in Israel and southern Lebanon,” Biden said. “It is time for these deals to close, for the threats to Israel to be removed, and for the broader Middle East region to gain greater stability.”
This week, the U.S. sent more troops to the Middle East in response to the sharp spike in violence between Israel and Hezbollah forces.
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Nasrallah, 64, had been Hezbollah’s leader since Israel assassinated his predecessor, Abbas al-Musawi, in 1992. Over his more than three decades leading Hezbollah, Nasrallah oversaw the significant development of the U.S.-designated terrorist group’s arsenal and cemented Hezbollah within Lebanon’s political sphere, also advancing Iran’s “axis of resistance” mission.
Nasrallah’s death is seemingly the culmination of an extraordinary intelligence success for Israel, which began with the dramatic, remote explosions of pagers less than two weeks ago. It also marks a dramatic escalation in the conflict that has engulfed the Middle East promulgated by Iran’s proxies, including Hamas attacking Israel, and Israel’s escalating responses. The conflicts have gone on for nearly a year, but the killing of Nasrallah is expected to result in an Iranian response.
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