China urges citizens in Israel to leave 'as soon as possible'
· CNA · JoinBEIJING: China has urged its citizens in Israel to leave "as soon as possible", as tensions between Israel and Lebanon's Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah escalate.
"Currently, the situation along the Israel-Lebanon border is extremely tense, with frequent military conflicts," China's embassy in Israel said in a statement on Sunday (Sep 22).
"The security situation in Israel remains severe, complex, and unpredictable," the statement added.
The embassy urged Chinese citizens in Israel to "return home or relocate to safer areas as soon as possible".
Israel and Hezbollah threatened on Sunday to escalate their cross-border attacks despite international calls for both sides to step back from the brink of all-out war.
An Israeli air strike in a densely populated Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut on Friday killed the head of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force, Ibrahim Aqil.
It came after a series of coordinated communications device blasts on Tuesday and Wednesday across Lebanon that killed 39 people and wounded almost 3,000, and which were blamed on Israel.
China last month asked its citizens in Lebanon to leave after an Israeli strike in the country killed a senior Palestinian militant.
Sign up for our newsletters
Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox
Get the CNA app
Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories
Get WhatsApp alerts
Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app