Turkey Urges Its Citizens to Leave Lebanon and Ambassador Ozeldiz Arrives in Beirut
Turkey called on its citizens present in Lebanon to leave the country in the aftermath of the kidnapping of a Turkish pilot and copilot in Beirut at dawn on Friday.
“Given the current situation it is vital that our citizens avoid all travel to Lebanon," the foreign ministry in a statement posted on its website.
"We suggest that citizens who are still in Lebanon return to Turkey if they can, or if they have to remain, to take all measures to ensure their personal safety and be vigilant," it added.
It said Ankara expected the Lebanese government to take "all necessary measures" to ensure the safety of Turkish citizens in the country.
On Friday evening, the state-run National News Agency reported that Turkish ambassador to Lebanon Inan Ozeldiz arrived in Beirut amid strict security measures.
"Ozeldiz arrived at 10:00pm on Friday on board a Turkish Airlines airplane coming from Istanbul,” the NNA detailed.
"Strict security measures were adopted in the surroundings of Rafik Hariri International Airport and the ambassador was accompanied by security forces and convoys belonging to the Turkish embassy in Beirut.”
Gunmen kidnapped the pilots in an ambush on a bus carrying members of a Turkish Airlines crew from Beirut airport to a hotel.
Source: Agence France Presse
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