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The Department of State continues to urge U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to Lebanon due to current safety and security
concerns. U.S. citizens living and working in Lebanon should understand that they accept risks in remaining and should carefully
consider those risks. This supersedes the Travel Warning issued on April 4, 2011, to update information on security and kidnapping
threats, and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

The potential in Lebanon for a spontaneous upsurge in violence remains. Lebanese government authorities are not able to guarantee
protection for citizens or visitors to the country should violence erupt suddenly. Access to borders, airports, and seaports
can be interrupted with little or no warning. Public demonstrations occur frequently with little warning and have the potential
to become violent. Family or neighborhood disputes often escalate quickly and can lead to gunfire or other violence with little
or no warning. The ability of U.S. government personnel to reach travelers or provide emergency services may at times be severely
limited.

A number of extremist groups operate in Lebanon, including some, such as Hizballah, that the U.S. government has designated
as terrorist organizations. U.S. citizens have been the target of numerous terrorist attacks in Lebanon in the past, and the
threat of anti-Western terrorist activity continues to exist in Lebanon. U.S. citizens traveling or residing in Lebanon despite
this Travel Warning should keep a low profile, varying times and routes for all required travel. U.S. citizens also should
pay close attention to their personal security at locations where Westerners generally are known to congregate, and should
avoid demonstrations and large gatherings.

Hizballah maintains a strong presence in parts of the southern suburbs of Beirut, portions of the Bekaa Valley, and areas
in South Lebanon. The situation remains tense, and sporadic violence involving Hizballah or other extremist or criminal organizations
remains a possibility in many areas of the country. 

Hizballah and other para-military groups have at times detained U.S. citizens or other foreigners for interrogation – sometimes
for hours or longer. Kidnapping, whether for ransom or political motives, remains a problem in Lebanon. Suspects in kidnappings
sometimes have been found to have ties to terrorist or criminal organizations.

On March 23, 2011, seven Estonian bicyclists were kidnapped in Deir Zenoun, between Masnaa and Zahle in the Bekaa Valley.
The kidnapping was pre-planned and well coordinated, according to Lebanese authorities. The Estonians were ultimately released
on July 14, 2011.

Although the U.S. government places the highest priority on the safe recovery of kidnapped U.S. citizens, it is U.S. policy
not to pay ransom.

Demonstrators sometimes block the primary road between downtown Beirut and Rafiq Hariri International Airport for short periods
of time and without warning. Access to the airport also may be cut off, sometimes for extended periods, if the security situation
deteriorates.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) is a body the United Nations and Lebanon created to investigate past political assassinations,
including the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. On June 30, 2011, the STL delivered to Lebanon’s Prosecutor
General an indictment containing arrest warrants for four Hizballah members who are still at large. U.S. citizens in Lebanon
should monitor ongoing political developments, particularly in relation to the STL, as Lebanese political leaders have warned
publicly that the Tribunal’s findings could spark civil unrest. 

Rocket attacks from southern Lebanon into Israel have occurred in the past and remain a potential threat. These attacks frequently
provoke a military response from Israel. The rocket attacks and responses occur with no warning. Skirmishes and tense exchanges
between the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Israeli Defense Forces, as well as protesters and civilians, along Lebanon’s southern
border with Israel also may occur with no warning. On May 15, 2011, several demonstrators were killed and several, including
a U.S. citizen, were severely wounded near the southern Lebanese border town of Maroun a-Ras after clashes with Israel resulted
in open gunfire. Landmines and unexploded ordnance pose significant dangers throughout southern Lebanon, particularly south
of the Litani River, as well as in areas of the country where fighting was intense during the civil war. More than 40 civilians
have been killed and over 300 injured by unexploded ordnance remaining from the July-August 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. Travelers
should watch for posted landmine warnings and strictly avoid all areas where landmines and unexploded ordnance may be present.

Palestinian groups hostile to both the Lebanese government and the United States operate largely autonomously inside refugee
and military camps in different areas of the country. Intra-communal violence within the camps has resulted in violent incidents
such as shootings and explosions. U.S. citizens should avoid travel to Palestinian camps. Asbat al-Ansar, a terrorist group
with alleged links to Al-Qaida, has targeted Lebanese, U.S., and other foreign government interests. Although the group has
been outlawed by the Lebanese government, it continues to maintain a presence in the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp. 

U.S. citizens traveling or resident in Lebanon despite this Travel Warning should be aware that the U.S. Embassy’s ability
to reach all areas of Lebanon is limited. The Embassy cannot guarantee that Embassy employees will be able to render assistance
to U.S. citizens in all areas of the country.

In the event that the security climate in the country worsens, U.S. citizens will be responsible for arranging their own travel
out of Lebanon. U.S. citizens with special medical or other needs should be aware of the risks of remaining given their condition,
and should be prepared to seek treatment in Lebanon if they cannot arrange for travel out of the country.

U.S. government-facilitated evacuations, such as the evacuation that took place from Lebanon in 2006, occur only when no safe
commercial alternatives exist. Evacuation assistance is provided on a cost-recovery basis, which means the traveler must reimburse
the U.S. government for travel costs. The lack of a valid U.S. passport may hinder U.S. citizens’ ability to depart the country
and may slow the U.S. Embassy’s ability to provide assistance. U.S. citizens in Lebanon should therefore ensure that they
have proper and current documentation at all times. U.S. Legal Permanent Residents should consult with the Department of Homeland
Security before they depart the United States to ensure they have proper documentation to re-enter. Further information on
the Department’s role during emergencies is provided at the Bureau of Consular Affairs website.

The Department of State considers the threat to U.S. government personnel in Beirut sufficiently serious to require them to
live and work under strict security restrictions. The internal security policies of the U.S. Embassy may be adjusted at any
time and without advance notice. These practices limit, and may occasionally prevent, access by U.S. Embassy officials to
certain areas of the country. Because of security concerns, unofficial travel to Lebanon by U.S. government employees and
their family members is discouraged and strictly limited and requires the Department of State’s prior approval.

U.S. citizens living or traveling in Lebanon are encouraged to enroll in the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Lebanon. U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged
to update their information if it is no longer current.

The U.S. Embassy is located in Awkar, near Antelias, Beirut, Lebanon. Public access hours for U.S. citizens are Monday, Tuesday,
and Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., U.S. citizens must make appointments in advance at http://lebanon.usembassy.gov/citizenservices/appointments.html.
However, U.S. citizens who require emergency services outside these hours may contact the embassy by telephone at any time.
The telephone numbers are (961-4) 542-600, 543-600, and fax 544-209.

Information on consular services and enrollment in STEP can also be found at U.S. Embassy in Lebanon’s website or by phone at the above telephone numbers between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday local time. Inquiries may
also be sent BeirutACS@state.gov.

Up-to-date information on travel and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States
and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are
available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). 

For further information, U.S. citizens should consult the Department of State’s Country Specific Information for Lebanon. Stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well.