Iranian diplomats leave Lebanon after strikes near embassy

More than 150 Iranian citizens, including diplomats and their families, left Lebanon on Saturday, a senior Lebanese security source told Reuters.

The departure comes after Israel threatened Iranian officials in the country and carried out strikes near the Iranian embassy in Beirut.

According to the source, the Iranians were evacuated to Russia by Russian aircraft. On Friday, another 20 Iranian citizens left Lebanon as the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah movement escalated.

Earlier this week, the Israeli army called on Iranian representatives in Lebanon to ‘leave the country immediately before they become targets of attacks’.

Tensions were further heightened by a statement from Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who asked security forces to detain and deport any members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard if they were conducting military activities on Lebanese territory.

However, Hezbollah denied that Iranian military units were operating in the country.

(reuters, est)