Lebanon is now under a Level 4 — Do Not Travel notice. The U.S. State Department issued the nationwide travel warning on July 3 2025 after weeks of escalating street violence, cross-border fire, and kidnappings. Officials cite terrorism, Civil Unrest, and unexploded landmines, stressing that security forces cannot protect visitors. The advisory has no set end date.
At-a-Glance Severity: Warning, Affected Area: Lebanon nationwide, Effective: Jul 3 2025 – Ongoing
Key Points
- Crime, terrorism, and kidnapping remain widespread, especially near borders.
- Border clashes with Israel and Syria cause sudden road and air closures.
- Unexploded ordnance litters rural areas and some Beirut suburbs.
- Impact on travelers: Commercial flights may be grounded without notice; evacuation help is unlikely.
Lebanon Travel Warning: What Is Happening
Street Protests have turned deadly in Beirut, Tripoli, and Saida as sectarian groups battle over shrinking fuel and food supplies. Rocket exchanges along the southern border spiked after June 22 Israeli-Iranian strikes, prompting Hezbollah to amass fighters near Tyre. Security checkpoints appear randomly, and armed factions openly patrol some neighborhoods. Power cuts exceed twenty hours per day, hampering hospitals and airports. The Lebanese Armed Forces remain overstretched, and local police often refuse to intervene. With attacks on aid convoys and a surge in politically motivated kidnappings, officials warn conditions could deteriorate “within hours” if a new flashpoint ignites.
Official Guidance
United States: The State Department urges U.S. citizens to avoid Lebanon entirely and recommends those already there depart immediately on commercial flights while they are available. The embassy can only offer limited emergency support and will not evacuate private U.S. nationals. United Kingdom: The FCDO advises against all travel to most of Lebanon, citing the risk of air-strike spill-over, kidnapping, and arbitrary detention; remaining areas are “all-but-essential travel” only. Canada & Australia: Both governments mirror the Level 4 notice, adding that Travel Insurance is unlikely to cover war-related losses. Airlines have warned that Beirut’s Rafic Hariri Airport could close on short notice if airspace is restricted.
Practical Steps
- Leave while flights operate. Keep checked baggage light in case you must rebook quickly.
- Register your presence. Enroll in your government’s citizen-locator program and monitor embassy SMS alerts.
- Plan land exits cautiously. Syrian and Israeli borders can shut without warning, and military activity may block roads.
- Carry hard currency and essentials. ATMs often fail during outages; food and fuel shortages are routine.
- Insurance check. Confirm your policy covers “civil unrest” or “terrorism.” Many exclude Level 4 destinations.
- Embassy contacts. Store emergency numbers for the U.S. Embassy Beirut (+961 4 543-600) and your carrier’s 24-hour desk. If stranded, shelter indoors away from windows and monitor local media on battery-powered radios. See our Global Travel Alerts hub page for continuing updates.
Final Thoughts
Depart Lebanon as soon as you can secure a reliable route. If you must remain, keep a go-bag ready and avoid political gatherings. Travel regulations can change rapidly. Confirm requirements with official channels before departure.