U.S. issues urgent warning to Americans still in Lebanon as troops are sent in ready to evacuate citizens during Israeli airstrikes

The US Embassy in Beirut is calling on all Americans still in the country to leave, as Joe Biden sends troops to respond to increased violence between Israel and Hezbollah.

This follows a similar call from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as Israeli Strikes continue in the country, leaving thousands dead, injured and displaced.

The embassy offers limited flight options from the nearest airport, despite most airlines having cancelled flights.

If U.S. citizens who wish to leave do not have sufficient financial resources to return, the embassy offers financial assistance through repatriation loans.

“We advise U.S. citizens who choose not to leave Lebanon to develop emergency plans and be prepared to remain home for an extended period of time,” the statement said.

The embassy offers limited flight options from the nearest airport, despite most airlines cancelling flights

Israel expanded airstrikes on Lebanon on Monday, killing nearly 500 people and wounding more than 1,600 in what appeared to be the start of a broader military campaign.

The State of Israel says it is targeting “terrorists” with ties to Hezbollah, the group that fires rockets into Israel.

The Pentagon announced Monday that “additional” troops would be deployed to the 40,000 already stationed in the region, along with a dozen warships and fighter squadrons.

Israeli forces have stepped up their airstrikes in areas deep inside Lebanon and the State Department has warned all Americans to leave as the risk of conflict increases to levels not seen in years.

Tensions have reached boiling point over the past seven days, escalating when Hezbollah members’ pagers and walkie-talkies exploded in a coordinated attack last week.

Devastating Israeli airstrikes on Monday killed at least 100 people and wounded another 400 in Lebanon, as IDF warplanes pounded targets across the country.

Terrified residents of Beirut and elsewhere received phone calls and text messages warning them to stay away from Hezbollah targets. Lebanon’s information minister condemned the warnings, calling them a tactic of “psychological warfare by the enemy.”

Schools were closed early due to the heavy attacks, leading to calls for international intervention.

Security forces and medical teams arrive in the area after the Israeli army attacked the 4th and 5th floors of a building in Ghobeiry municipality, where Hezbollah has a strong presence in Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon

Joe Biden called for peace in the Middle East in a speech at the United Nations on Tuesday

The Biden administration has warned Israel that escalation is not in its interest and that it still wants a diplomatic solution.

Biden delivered a speech at the United Nations on Tuesday, calling for peace in the Middle East.

“It is now time for the parties to set the terms, bring the hostages home and ensure the security of Israel and Gaza, be free from the grip of Hamas, alleviate the suffering in Gaza and end this war. October 7,” he said.

“Since October 7, we have been determined to prevent a broader war affecting the entire region,” he said.

“Our task, our test, is to ensure that the forces that hold us together are stronger than the forces that pull us apart,” Biden said. “I truly believe that we are at a new turning point in world history. Because the choices we make today will determine our future for decades to come.”

At the Pentagon, spokesman Gen. Pat Ryder would not confirm how many troops were being deployed or where they were going.

“Given the heightened tensions in the Middle East and out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional U.S. troops to bolster our force presence in the region,” he said.

“Due to the unpredictable nature of the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel and the recent explosions throughout Lebanon, including Beirut, the U.S. Embassy urges American citizens to leave Lebanon while commercial options remain available,” the State Department warned Saturday.