UAE Calls On Citizens not to Travel to Lebanon
The United Arab Emirates called its citizens on Saturday to refrain from traveling to Lebanon except in case of utmost necessity.
“We have taken this decision because of the political situation in Lebanon and in surrounding countries,” the Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Butti al-Hamed told Emirates News Agency - WAM , explaining that the ministry is keen on protecting people's safety outside the country.
“We urge our citizens to abide by this decision and to take precautions once outside the UAE,” he added.
The UAE had urged its people on August 15 to avoid traveling to Lebanon after its embassy in the country received threats about targeting its national.
This came after al-Meqdad clan had kidnapped over 20 Syrian nationals, who allegedly belong to the Free Syrian Army, in tit-for-tat kidnappings after the FSA detained Hassan Salim al-Meqdad.
Al-Meqdad family also held UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey responsible for the kidnapping of Hassan.
The family’s military wing warned that they can reach Aley, Tripoli and Iqlim al-Kharroub, saying that they have a bank of targets in Lebanon and capable of reaching regional targets.
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