Australia Issues Travel Advisory to Lebanon, Citing Security Fears

The Australian Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a travel advice, warning its nationals against heading to several areas in the Lebanon that have witnessed unrest, and saying the situation could deteriorate “quickly.”

The advice, which was issued late on Wednesday, urged nationals not to head to the northern coastal city of Tripoli, areas in north Lebanon, Sir al-Dinniyeh and the northeastern border town of Arsal, citing security fears.

“We continue to advise Australians to reconsider their need to travel to Lebanon overall because of the unpredictable security and political situation... that could deteriorate without warning,” the ministry said in a statement.

The war in neighboring Syria, which has raised existing tensions between Lebanon's Shiite and Sunni residents, has spilled over with increasing regularity.

The Lebanese army had battled jihadists, including Islamic State militants, both across its porous border with Syria and in its second city Tripoli.

H.K.

M.T.