TOKYO: Japan鈥檚 Foreign Ministry raised the danger alert for the Lebanon-Israel border zone to level 4, the highest level, signifying 鈥渆vacuate immediately.鈥�

The safety division of the Foreign Ministry explained the background of the advice. 鈥淢issiles were launched by armed groups in southern Lebanon toward Israel since October 7, incidents reported bombing border fences and invading Israeli territory, and mortar shells have been confirmed on the neighboring border with Syria. That means there is an extremely high risk of being involved in an 鈥渦nexpected situation.鈥�

Given the 鈥渄eteriorating situation鈥� there, the division advised Japanese citizens to 鈥渞efrain from traveling to that area for any purpose.鈥� The advice asked those there to ensure their safety and evacuate without hesitation.

The Ministry also issued a level 3 danger warning for the West Bank (excluding Jericho, Bethlehem, Ramallah, the main roads connecting these three cities and Jerusalem, and National Highways 1 and 0 within the West Bank).

The advisory has been raised to 鈥渞ecommendation against travel to the areas indicated for any purpose鈥� and asked those currently there 鈥渢o consider leaving while commercial flights are still available.鈥�