KUWAIT: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on Kuwaiti citizens in Lebanon to leave as soon as possible, unless it’s urgent to stay. In a statement, the Ministry called on those who are unable to leave Lebanon to contact Kuwait Embassy immediately via the embassy’s emergency phone: 0096171171441.

The Ministry also renewed its call to all citizens not to go to Lebanon, at the present time, in view of the security situation in the region. Kuwait Airways is operating large planes to Beirut to help Kuwaiti citizens returning home, the national carrier declared on Saturday. Coordination is proceeding with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide all needed services for the Kuwaiti nationals desiring to return to Kuwait, it said.

‘Another Gaza’

Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Friday that fighting between Zionists and Hezbollah must not turn Lebanon into “another Gaza.” Guterres cited increased “bellicose rhetoric” from both sides as they engage in nearly daily exchanges of fire across the Zionist-Lebanese border in parallel with the war in the Gaza Strip, and he said they risk triggering a catastrophe “beyond imagination.” “Let’s be clear: The people of the region and the people of the world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza,” Guterres told reporters.

As Zionist entity and Hezbollah trade cross-border fire, fears of a regional conflict are growing after the Zionist entity revealed it had approved plans for a Lebanon offensive and the Iran-backed militants vowed to blanket their foe in rockets. “The risk for the conflict in the Middle East to widen is real—and must be avoided,” Guterres said. “One rash move—one miscalculation—could trigger a catastrophe that goes far beyond the border, and frankly, beyond imagination,” he added. — Agencies