UAE, Oman, Qatar Join Others in Warning against Approaching Unsafe Areas in Lebanon

Empty ammunition casings litter the ground at the Ain el-Hilweh camp in Lebanon's southern coastal city of Sidon, on August 4, 2023, following the latest flare-up in the camp for Palestinian refugees. (AFP)
Empty ammunition casings litter the ground at the Ain el-Hilweh camp in Lebanon's southern coastal city of Sidon, on August 4, 2023, following the latest flare-up in the camp for Palestinian refugees. (AFP)
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UAE, Oman, Qatar Join Others in Warning against Approaching Unsafe Areas in Lebanon

Empty ammunition casings litter the ground at the Ain el-Hilweh camp in Lebanon's southern coastal city of Sidon, on August 4, 2023, following the latest flare-up in the camp for Palestinian refugees. (AFP)
Empty ammunition casings litter the ground at the Ain el-Hilweh camp in Lebanon's southern coastal city of Sidon, on August 4, 2023, following the latest flare-up in the camp for Palestinian refugees. (AFP)

More Arab countries have warned against travel to Lebanon in wake of the clashes that had raged in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh in the South.

Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman joined Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in warning their nationals against travel to Lebanon or approaching areas where the clashes were taking place.

The UAE urged its citizens to abide by the previous travel ban to Lebanon.

Qatar said its nationals who are visiting Lebanon must exercise caution and avoid areas that have witnessed unrest.

It added that Qataris in Lebanon must get in contact with the Qatari embassy in Beirut in case of emergency.

Oman also issued a similar call for caution to its citizens.

Saudi Arabia had on Friday called on its citizens to quickly leave Lebanese territory and to avoid approaching areas where there have been armed clashes.

On Aug. 1, the United Kingdom also updated its travel advice for Lebanon, advising against "all but essential travel" to parts of Lebanon’s south near the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh.

Kuwait also issued an advisory early on Saturday calling on Kuwaitis in Lebanon to stay vigilant and avoid "areas of security disturbances."

The Lebanese government has scrambled to contain the fallout and avoid damage to the country’s most promising tourism season in 13 years.

At least 13 people, most of them gunmen, were killed in fighting that broke out in Ain el-Hilweh on July 29 between mainstream faction Fatah and hardline Islamists, security sources in the camp said.

An uneasy calm has since been restored after Palestinian and Lebanese parties, including Amal and Hezbollah, intervened.

Ain el-Hilweh is the largest of 12 Palestinian camps in Lebanon, which host up to 250,000 Palestinian refugees, according to the United Nations' agency for refugees from Palestine (UNRWA).

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati had delivered a rare rebuke to the Palestinian factions, saying the fighting was a "flagrant violation of Lebanese sovereignty."

"It is unacceptable for Palestinian groups to view Lebanon as open ground where they can wage their bloody fighting and terrorize the Lebanese people," he added.



Yemeni Armed Forces Ready to Secure Bab al-Mandab, Strategic Waterways

Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Governor of Marib and Chief of Staff during a previous visit to the fronts in Marib (Saba)
Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Governor of Marib and Chief of Staff during a previous visit to the fronts in Marib (Saba)
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Yemeni Armed Forces Ready to Secure Bab al-Mandab, Strategic Waterways

Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Governor of Marib and Chief of Staff during a previous visit to the fronts in Marib (Saba)
Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Governor of Marib and Chief of Staff during a previous visit to the fronts in Marib (Saba)

Brigadier General Abdo Magli, spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, confirmed their capability to counter Houthi threats and secure vital waterways, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key global trade route.
He highlighted the urgency of regional and international efforts to address ongoing Houthi attacks on commercial and oil vessels in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, which threaten international trade stability.
Magli noted that Houthi assaults on maritime navigation align with Iran’s regional ambitions and exacerbate Yemen’s humanitarian crisis, undermining peace efforts. He called for decisive global action to curb the militia’s threats and maintain the safety of strategic trade routes.
On the ground, the Yemeni Armed Forces recently repelled Houthi infiltration attempts in several fronts in Marib and Taiz. Magli reported that the army neutralized Houthi artillery attacks and monitored militia movements, maintaining strong defensive positions. He also highlighted ongoing Houthi attacks on civilian areas in Taiz, describing the militia’s use of artillery and drones as part of their broader aggression.
The spokesperson underscored the growing strength and professionalism of the Yemeni Armed Forces, emphasizing their readiness to confront Houthi militias and their Iranian-backed agenda. He also warned of the Houthis’ continued mobilization in areas under their control, aimed at subjugating the Yemeni population.
Magli called for international cooperation to end the Houthi militia’s aggression, which threatens regional stability and global trade. He reaffirmed the Yemeni military’s commitment to securing the country’s waterways and protecting its people from ongoing threats.