China evacuates citizens from Lebanon, urges security precautions for nationals in Iran

More than 200 Chinese citizens along with foreign family members have been evacuated from Lebanon, China’s embassy in Beirut said on Wednesday, as Israel launched a ground offensive into its northern neighbour, raising the prospect of an all-out war in the region.

“On [Tuesday], 146 Chinese citizens in Lebanon and five of their foreign family members arrived safely in Beijing,” the embassy said in a statement. Another 69 Chinese nationals and 11 of their foreign family members had been evacuated to Cyprus aboard a Chinese vessel.

“All Chinese citizens who would like to evacuate [from Lebanon] have been safely evacuated,” the statement said, adding that embassy personnel would remain.

The evacuations came hours after Israel announced what it said were “targeted ground raids” in Lebanon, a move that Tel Aviv claimed were directed at Iran-backed Hezbollah, marking another surge in the year-old Israel-Gaza war.

Two Israeli army divisions have been taking part in ground operations in southern Lebanon since Monday. There was no word on casualties.