Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Asks Indonesian Citizens To Postpone Travel To Lebanon To Israel

Impact of ISrael's attack on Hebbariyeh, southern Lebanon/OCHA/Lebanon

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the Indonesian Embassy in Beirut asked Indonesian citizens (WNI) to postpone their trip to Lebanon, Iran, Israel and Palestine.

"For Indonesian citizens who have plans to travel to Lebanon, Iran, Israel and Palestine to postpone the trip until the situation is safe," said Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens and BHI of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Judha Nugraha as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, September 24.

Judha said that since August 2024, the Indonesian Embassy in Beirut has raised its status to Alert 1 for all Lebanon. Previously, the Indonesian Embassy had set Alert 1 for the southern Lebanese region since October 2023.

The Indonesian Embassy in Beirut noted that 159 Indonesian citizens are currently in Lebanon. Since the establishment of Alert 1, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indonesian Embassy in Beirut have facilitated the evacuation of 25 Indonesian citizens from Lebanon.

Meanwhile, the majority of Indonesian citizens choose to stay in Lebanon for personal reasons. The majority who choose to live are students and Indonesian citizens who are married to local residents.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indonesian Embassy have again conveyed an appeal for Indonesian citizens to increase their vigilance, stay away from vulnerable locations, and limit non-essential travel," said Judha added.

Israel continues to launch airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon.

Lebanese health authorities said 558 people had been killed, including 50 children, since Monday, September 23 morning. The attack also forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes.

Hezbollah and Israel have been involved in cross-border wars since Israel attacked the brutal Gazaswcara Line following cross-border attacks by the Palestinian Hamas group on October 7, 2023.

Since Israel's military operations against Gaza have taken place, more than 41,400 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have died.

Israeli forces have intensified their attacks on Lebanon and ignored international community warnings that they are at risk of spreading Gaza's conflict to other regions.