The embassy of Greece in Lebanon issued a statement through which it recommends Greek visitors to leave the country.

Specifically, the announcement states:

Due to the evolving situation in the region, the Greek Embassy in Beirut recommends to Greek visitors who are not permanent residents of Lebanon to leave the country.

The embassy’s announcement comes one day after the visit of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis to Israel.

Wider concerns

Similar recommendations were made by the governments of the USA, UK and Germany.

The three nations issued statements on Thursday as Israeli forces continued to exchange fire with armed groups in southern Lebanon, where the Iran-backed Hezbollah group is the dominant force.

The US has issued an additional global alert to its citizens

“We recommend that US citizens in Lebanon make appropriate arrangements to leave the country,” the US embassy in Beirut said in a statement.

The US State Department, on the other hand, issued a global alert warning its citizens that tensions in the Middle East could increase the possibility of violent attacks against Americans.

The move comes as Israel prepares for a ground invasion of Gaza and fears grow that it will increase the risk of a wider regional war.