France calls on its citizens to leave Lebanon “immediately”

France on Sunday called on its citizens in Lebanon to leave the Middle East country “as soon as required for”, due to fears of the outbreak of a general war between Israel and Hezbollah.

France's Foreign Ministry also reiterated the call for French citizens not to travel for Lebanon.

Paris followed the steps of Washington and London, which on Saturday urged its citizens to leave Lebanon.

France estimates that some 23,000 of its citizens live in Lebanon, while last month about 10,000 French citizens visited the Middle East country.

Meanwhile, Sweden announced it has closed its embassy in Beirut and called on citizens to leave this country.

Tensions in the region are too high after killing Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas' political leader, US and EU-declared terrorist group, and a senior Lebanese group commander, Hezbollah, last week.

Haneyeh's death on Iranian soil and Israeli attacks on Tehran-backed groups involved in attacks against Israel have sparked fears of the threat of an outbreak of a direct war between Iran and Israel and a widespread conflict in the Middle East.

Hayeh was killed on the morning of July 31st in a rich neighbourhood in Tehran, shortly after attending the inauguration ceremony of Iranian President Masud POSkian in Parliament.

Iran and Hamas have accused Israel of killing Haneyeh and have vowed to retaliate. Israel has not claimed responsibility for his murder, but has neither denied it. /rel