US renews travel advisory to Lebanon after Tripoli blasts

The United States renewed its travel advisory to Lebanon, by reminding U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to Lebanon due to safety and security concerns and by asking the U.S. expatriates in the country to exercise security awareness.

“In light of the recent escalation of sectarian clashes within Lebanon, and spillover violence from Syria, the U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens in Lebanon to exercise security awareness of their surroundings at all times, and take appropriate measures to ensure their safety and security,” a message from the U.S. Embassy said.

The embassy advised its citizens to be conscious of their personal security at all times, avoid demonstrations and large gatherings given the “spontaneous demonstrations, neighborhood and sectarian disputes” that can escalate quickly and lead to gunfire.

“The Embassy urges all U.S. citizens in Lebanon to monitor the media for the latest developments,” it said.

The death toll from the two powerful explosions that rocked Tripoli, Lebanon’s northern capital Friday, August 23 resulted in the killing of at least 50 people and the wounding of over 350 according to Nader Ghazal, the mayor of the city.

The explosions targeted the Al-Taqwa Mosque in the city’s Al-Zahiriya area and the Al-Salam Mosque in the Al-Mina neighborhood.